Aedes aegypti is a primary vector that transmits dengue and yellow fever around the world. To prevent the spreading and elimination of mosquitoes, insecticides and repellents like DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-methyl benzamide) have been broadly used. Even though DEET is considered as highly effective and proven protection against mosquito, it causes skin irritants and rashes, melts some synthetic plastics, and unpleasant smells. Therefore, there is a trend finding alternative mosquito repellents instead of using DEET. We tested repellent effects with plant essential oils and synergistic effects of those plant essential oils with additional vanillin, comparing them to DEET itself. Some of prepared mixtures showed better repellency than DEET. In addition, we evaluated the differences in the peripheral olfactory responses of Ae.aegypti females using EAG tests (electroantennogram). The aim of this test is to determined how the vanillin within plant essential oils or DEET acts in mosquito’s olfactory organs in aspect of molecular mechanisms. Revealing the novel function and localization of these putative repellent receptors may provide new insight into development of repellent as well as behavioral control agents in the future and contribute to understand the mechanism of processing patterns of repellent receptors in mosquitoes.

• June-Sun Yoon(WCU Biomodulation major, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)
• Soon-Il Kim(WCU Biomodulation major, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)
• Je Won Jung(WCU Biomodulation major, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)
• Ki-Bae Hong(WCU Biomodulation major, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)
• Hyung Wook Kwon(WCU Biomodulation major, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)