Why Garlic Repels Mosquitoes and Keeps Them From Breeding
Why Garlic Repels Mosquitoes and Keeps Them From Breeding
为什么大蒜能驱蚊并抑制其繁殖
Garlic has been considered a natural mosquito repellent for centuries. In popular culture, it is believed that its pungent smell repels these insects, which, in addition to causing sleepless nights, transmit diseases such as dengue fever or malaria. Now, this belief has a scientific explanation. 几个世纪以来，大蒜一直被视为一种天然的驱蚊剂。在流行文化中，人们普遍认为大蒜刺鼻的气味可以驱赶这些昆虫，它们不仅会导致人们彻夜难眠，还会传播登革热或疟疾等疾病。现在，这一观点终于有了科学解释。
A group of scientists from Yale University conducted a phytochemical analysis of 43 fruits and vegetables to identify natural compounds capable of interfering with the reproductive behavior of flying pest insects. To do so, the team used fruit flies, a species that often mates on food, as a model organism. 耶鲁大学的一组科学家对 43 种水果和蔬菜进行了植物化学分析，旨在寻找能够干扰飞行害虫繁殖行为的天然化合物。为此，研究小组选择了经常在食物上交配的果蝇作为模式生物。
Based on this behavior, the researchers hypothesized that some fruits and vegetables might contain substances capable of altering the reproductive processes of these insects. After exposing different specimens to the mashed food included in the experiment, they observed that none of the products had a significant aphrodisiac effect. However, they found that garlic completely blocked mating and egg laying. 基于这种行为，研究人员推测某些水果和蔬菜可能含有能够改变这些昆虫繁殖过程的物质。在让不同的样本接触实验中的捣碎食物后，他们观察到没有任何一种食物具有显著的催情作用。然而，他们发现大蒜完全阻止了果蝇的交配和产卵。
After this initial finding, the researchers sought to determine the source of the effect and focused their attention on the influence of garlic on the flies’ senses of taste and smell. To this end, they conducted two experiments. In the first, they placed the garlic puree in such a way that the insects could only smell it; in the second, they allowed them to taste it as well. The results showed that the taste was the factor that actually inhibited reproductive behaviors. 在这一初步发现之后，研究人员试图确定这种效应的来源，并将注意力集中在大蒜对果蝇味觉和嗅觉的影响上。为此，他们进行了两项实验。在第一个实验中，他们放置蒜泥的方式使得昆虫只能闻到它；在第二个实验中，他们让昆虫也能尝到它。结果表明，味觉才是真正抑制繁殖行为的因素。
The team then conducted a chemical analysis of the garlic to identify the compound responsible for the effect. They determined that diallyl disulfide was the element that caused the inhibition. In practice, this substance acts on a sensory receptor present in the fly’s taste organs, known as TrpA1. 随后，研究小组对大蒜进行了化学分析，以确定导致这种效应的化合物。他们确定二烯丙基二硫化物（diallyl disulfide）是导致抑制作用的成分。实际上，这种物质作用于果蝇味觉器官中一种名为 TrpA1 的感觉受体。
The TrpA1 receptor functions as a sensor that triggers immediate rejection responses when it detects potentially noxious tastes. According to an article published in the journal Cell, garlic specifically activates a group of bitter taste-sensitive neurons containing this receptor. This activation not only provokes a physical avoidance reaction but also changes at the molecular level by modifying the expression of various genes. TrpA1 受体就像一个传感器，当它检测到潜在的有害味道时，会触发立即排斥反应。根据发表在《细胞》（Cell）杂志上的一篇文章，大蒜会特异性地激活一组含有该受体的苦味敏感神经元。这种激活不仅会引起身体上的回避反应，还会通过改变各种基因的表达，在分子水平上产生影响。
Among the alterations identified, that of a gene closely related to the sensation of satiety stands out, suggesting that contact with garlic compounds directly interferes with the biological processes that regulate appetite and feeding in these insects. The authors posit that increased satiety appears to drive behaviors that limit mating and reproduction, primarily in females. 在发现的基因改变中，一个与饱腹感密切相关的基因尤为突出，这表明接触大蒜化合物会直接干扰调节这些昆虫食欲和进食的生物过程。作者认为，饱腹感的增加似乎会促使昆虫产生限制交配和繁殖的行为，尤其是在雌性昆虫中。
A Natural Repellent for Many Species
多种物种的天然驱避剂
In addition to fruit flies, the experiments were replicated in other flying insects, including two species of mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, and Zika virus, as well as tsetse flies. In all cases, the tests showed that garlic can act as an effective remedy to discourage reproduction. 除了果蝇，研究人员还在其他飞行昆虫身上重复了这些实验，包括两种传播黄热病、登革热和寨卡病毒等疾病的蚊子，以及采采蝇。在所有案例中，测试都表明大蒜可以作为一种有效的抑制繁殖的手段。
The researchers’ findings suggest that this plant, Allium sativum, could be used as a tool to control various insect pests harmful to both human health and agriculture. 研究人员的发现表明，这种植物（大蒜，Allium sativum）可以作为一种工具，用于控制对人类健康和农业有害的各种害虫。
“It’s inexpensive and grown all over the world,” said John Carlson, a Yale professor and coauthor of the study. “The idea of using it to ward off hematophagous creatures was proposed in 1897 by Bram Stoker in his novel Dracula, and perhaps he was right.” “它价格低廉，且在世界各地都有种植，”耶鲁大学教授、该研究的合著者约翰·卡尔森（John Carlson）说，“布拉姆·斯托克（Bram Stoker）在 1897 年的小说《德古拉》（Dracula）中提出了用大蒜驱赶吸血生物的想法，也许他是对的。”
This story originally appeared on WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish. 本文最初发表于《连线》西班牙语版，由西班牙语翻译而来。