모기는 왜 나만 쫓아다니나? Some people are more attractive than others to blood-sucking mosquitoes

콜레스테롤, 요산 등과 관련

source wcpo.com/

edited by kcontents 

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모기가 좋아하는 사람은 따로 있을까. 답은 “그렇다”이다. 미국 플로리다 대학의 제리 버틀러 교수는 “모기는 더 좋아하는 대상의 피를 빤다. 10명 중 1명꼴로 모기를 끌어들이는 사람이 있다”고 말했다. 모기가 사람의 몸 어느 곳을 더 좋아하는지는 알려지지 않았지만, 사람의 몸에서 나오는 어떤 화합물과 냄새에 반응하는지는 그동안 많이 연구됐다. 과학자들은 유전학으로 모기에게 물리기 쉬운 요인의 85%를 설명할 수 있을 것으로 보고 있다. 그들은 피부에서 과도하게 분비되는 특정 화학적 성분이 모기를 끌어들이는 것으로 파악하고 있다. 버틀러 교수는 “피부에 스테로이드와 콜레스테롤이 많은 사람이 모기를 불러 모은다”고 설명했다. 그는 “이는 전체 콜레스테롤 수치가 높은 것과는 관계가 없다”며 “신체가 피부의 콜레스테롤을 잘 처리하는 사람들이 모기에게 많이 물리는데, 그 이유는 피부에 남은 처리 부산물이 모기를 끌어들이기 때문으로 보인다”고 말했다. 미국곤충학회 대변인인 존 에드먼 박사는 “모기는 요산과 같은 특정 산(酸)을 과도하게 분비하는 사람을 공격 대상으로 삼는다”고 말했다. 이런 요소들 중에서도 50m 거리에서 냄새로 먹이를 찾는 모기의 표적이 되는 주원인은 이산화탄소다. 과학자들은 “이산화탄소는 먼 거리에서도 모기의 관심을 끌 수 있다”고 말한다. 이 때문에 이산화탄소를 더 많이 배출하는 어른이 아이보다 모기에게 물리기 쉽다. 이런 내용은 미국 건강, 의료 포털 ‘웹 엠디’에 실렸다. 코메디닷컴 권순일 기자 (kstt77@kormedi.com)

1 in 10 people are highly attractive to the insect

By: Alyssa Dailey  CINCINNATI -- It's that time of the year again for those pesky little insects that leave behind a red bump and seriously itchy skin. That's right -- mosquitoes. The tiny flying blood-suckers are out in full swing and though you may swear up and down you get bitten more than friends standing one foot away, science has come to the rescue to back up your claims.  "One in 10 people are highly attractive to mosquitoes," said Jerry Butler, PhD, professor emeritus at the University of Florida. But why? First off, there is a misconception when it comes to the reason mosquitoes bite humans in the first place. Think it's for a warm, yummy dinner? Not so much. Only female mosquitoes can claim responsibility for our itchy red bumps, males don't actually bite. The not-so-loved bugs need human blood to develop fertile eggs, according to WebMD.  Who mosquitoes love to attack Researchers haven't been able to find an exact reason why mosquitoes prefer some over others, but they have some pretty good ideas. "There's a tremendous amount of research being conducted on what compounds and odors people exude that might be attractive to mosquitoes," says Joe Conlon, PhD, technical advisor to the American Mosquito Control Association. But with 400 compounds to look at, it's a very long process. Conlon says researchers are just now starting to scratch the surface. However, scientists link 85 percent of susceptibility to mosquito bites to genetics and have found elements in our body chemistry that make the insects more attracted to us. "People with high concentrations of steroids or cholesterol on their skin surface attract mosquitoes," Butler told WebMD. He also said that it doesn't necessarily mean the bugs bite those with higher overall levels of cholesterol, but that these people may just be more efficient at processing cholesterol, the byproducts of which remain on the skin's surface. Entomologist John Edman, PhD says the flying pests also target people who produce an excess amount of certain acids like uric acid. The acid can make you smell pretty delicious to the little pests. Another reason? Mosquitoes can smell you from up to 50 meters away, especially those who emit a large quantity of carbon dioxide. "Any type of carbon dioxide is attractive, even over a long distance," Conlon says. Larger people tend to give off more carbon dioxide, which is why mosquitoes typically prefer munching on adults to small children. Pregnant women are also at increased risk, as they produce a greater-than-normal amount of exhaled carbon dioxide, says WebMD. And watch out, exercise seekers! Movement and heat also attract the biting insects. The dreaded summer nuisance has stuck around for about 170 million years -- so they won't be going anywhere soon. http://www.wcpo.com/news/health/healthy-living/some-people-are-more-attractive-than-others-to-blood-sucking-mosquitoes

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