Curr Biol May 2021 PMID 33667373

The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip.

Nadia Melo, Matthew Capek, Oscar M Arenas, Ali Afify, Ayse Yilmaz, Christopher J Potter, Peter J Laminette, Alessia Para, Marco Gallio, Marcus C Stensmyr

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Mentions

93
Peak: 19 in Mar 2021
across 4 sources since Mar 2021

Extended reach

63,853
potential audience

Total likes

236

Video views

6,006

Mentions per month

Mar 2021 – Sep 2022

Where it's discussed

  • News45 articles
  • X / Twitter34 posts
  • Blogs12 articles
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions highlight excitement about the discovery, with expressions like 'cool stuff' and comments noting the science's connection to historical ideas, indicating an appreciation for both the novelty and relevance. The tone is generally positive, with emphasis on the safety and applicability of using catnip as a natural repellent, driven by words like 'incredible' and 'powerful.' The references to detailed scientific aspects, such as receptor activation and genetic differences, demonstrate engagement with the technical content and its broader implications.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most comments express interest and appreciation for the scientific findings, with some explicitly labeling it as 'cool' or 'interesting', suggesting a general agreement on its relevance.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high curiosity, with mentions of related topics like mosquito repellent and references to historical figures like Pliny the Elder, indicating active interest in both the science and its applications.

EngagementModerate engagement

Several discussions refer to the implications of the research, such as safety and potential applications, reflecting a medium level of deep engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

While the posts recognize the significance of the study, especially in terms of natural insect repellents, they mainly discuss potential impacts rather than immediate practical or societal change.

Abstract in brief

  • The study shows that the irritant receptor TRPA1 plays a key role in how catnip repels insects like flies and mosquitoes by directly activating this receptor.
  • Catnip's active compound, nepetalactone, can induce this effect both in lab environments and in living insects, but not all variants of TRPA1 respond to it, indicating some genetic differences.
  • Unlike some irritants like tear gas, catnip does not activate human TRPA1, suggesting it could be used as a safe, insect-specific repellent targeting insect TRPA1 without affecting humans.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Trends in Parasitology
@TrendsParasitol · X

In honor of #WorldMosquitoDay this Friday, check out @CellPressNews collection https://t.co/YMDny2dZTA with @CurrentBiology report The irritant receptor #TRPA1 mediates the #mosquito repellent effect of #catnip @MarcusStensmyr @Biology_LU @Nuneurobio https://t.co/ja4dSi6REu https://t.co/woTl5c0AiX

Aug 18, 2021 · 15 likes · 6 shares · 8,612 followers View post →
Wenlei
@peter_leaf · X

Such an interesting finding! I like it! ---> The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip https://t.co/aHT8GOE0pL

Mar 5, 2021 · 9 likes · 5 shares · 363 followers View post →
Taufiq Rahman
@RahmanLab · X

cool stuff https://t.co/MyljEoU4Ms

May 10, 2021 · 7 likes · 2 shares · 915 followers View post →
Annika Reads
@papersofnote · X

I have never seen a more adorable graphical abstract than this, showing Pliny the Elder repelling mosquitoes with catnip. Inspired by Pliny, @MarcusStensmyr and @GallioLab show that catnip compounds repel insects (but not scorpions) via TRPA1 activation. https://t.co/FJK7HzSwUQ

Mar 6, 2021 · 4 likes · 1 share · 1,063 followers View post →
Baldwyn Torto
@baldwyn_torto · X

The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip on @ResearchGate: https://t.co/9j7hMLdBn9

Mar 8, 2021 · 3 likes · 1 share · 677 followers View post →
MosquitoPapers
@mosquito_papers · X

The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip https://t.co/w6EkAs0f1a

Mar 6, 2021 · 1 like · 1 share · 2,456 followers View post →

All mentions

Lina
@rohilsri1 · X

The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip. #CatMat #Cat #Handmade #LuxuryCrochet #TulinekMagicWorld #Soft #CatPillow #Mat #KittenWindow #SillBedPad https://t.co/dYvSUcZut6

Sep 14, 2022 · 85 followers View post →
Jessica
@khwajaavais_l · X

The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip. #etsyemail https://t.co/gKzx9sWOVM

Sep 14, 2022 · 147 followers View post →
covidISaUSbioweapon
@PaulSansonetti · X

@deaflibertarian catnip is an incredible mosquito repellent https://t.co/vlUVQ5efxX

May 16, 2022 · 1 like · 704 followers View post →
Bloodsucking Parasites
@bloodSparasites · X

RT @TrendsParasitol: In honor of #WorldMosquitoDay this Friday, check out @CellPressNews collection https://t.co/YMDny2dZTA with @CurrentBi…

Sep 10, 2021 · 6 shares · 5,098 followers View post →
Trends in Parasitology
@TrendsParasitol · X

RT @TrendsParasitol: In honor of #WorldMosquitoDay this Friday, check out @CellPressNews collection https://t.co/YMDny2dZTA with @CurrentBi…

Sep 10, 2021 · 6 shares · 8,612 followers View post →
Fc
@faabclaudiop · X

RT @TrendsParasitol: In honor of #WorldMosquitoDay this Friday, check out @CellPressNews collection https://t.co/YMDny2dZTA with @CurrentBi…

Aug 19, 2021 · 6 shares · 31 followers View post →
Jorge Cime
@Jcime · X

RT @TrendsParasitol: In honor of #WorldMosquitoDay this Friday, check out @CellPressNews collection https://t.co/YMDny2dZTA with @CurrentBi…

Aug 18, 2021 · 6 shares · 88 followers View post →
Thiago Jiran
@Thiago_Jiran · X

RT @TrendsParasitol: In honor of #WorldMosquitoDay this Friday, check out @CellPressNews collection https://t.co/YMDny2dZTA with @CurrentBi…

Aug 18, 2021 · 6 shares · 142 followers View post →
Bloodsucking Parasites
@bloodSparasites · X

RT @TrendsParasitol: In honor of #WorldMosquitoDay this Friday, check out @CellPressNews collection https://t.co/YMDny2dZTA with @CurrentBi…

Aug 18, 2021 · 6 shares · 5,098 followers View post →
Trends in Parasitology
@TrendsParasitol · X

In honor of #WorldMosquitoDay this Friday, check out @CellPressNews collection https://t.co/YMDny2dZTA with @CurrentBiology report The irritant receptor #TRPA1 mediates the #mosquito repellent effect of #catnip @MarcusStensmyr @Biology_LU @Nuneurobio https://t.co/ja4dSi6REu https://t.co/woTl5c0AiX

Aug 18, 2021 · 15 likes · 6 shares · 8,612 followers View post →
AnonRere
@AnonRere · X

The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip https://t.co/pS27IdDsnF #biology #cell

May 22, 2021 · 2,218 followers View post →
Parthiban Marimuthu, Ph.D.
@DrPMarimuthu · X

RT @RahmanLab: cool stuff https://t.co/MyljEoU4Ms

May 12, 2021 · 2 shares · 277 followers View post →
Ewan St. John Smith
@psalmotoxin · X

RT @RahmanLab: cool stuff https://t.co/MyljEoU4Ms

May 10, 2021 · 2 shares · 3,597 followers View post →
Taufiq Rahman
@RahmanLab · X

cool stuff https://t.co/MyljEoU4Ms

May 10, 2021 · 7 likes · 2 shares · 915 followers View post →
Drosophilosopher
@HammedBadmos · X

RT @interactivefly: Melo, N., Capek, M., Arenas, O. M., Afify, A., Yilmaz, A., Potter, C. J., Laminette, P. J., Para, A., Gallio, M. and St…

Apr 22, 2021 · 1 share · 1,364 followers View post →
Thomas Brody
@interactivefly · X

Melo, N., Capek, M., Arenas, O. M., Afify, A., Yilmaz, A., Potter, C. J., Laminette, P. J., Para, A., Gallio, M. and Stensmyr, M. C. (2021). The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip. Curr Biol. https://t.co/nF8hGXRomx

Apr 21, 2021 · 1 like · 1 share · 2,025 followers View post →
tess koyi
@tesskoyi · X

RT @baldwyn_torto: The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip on @ResearchGate: https://t.co/9j7hMLdBn9

Mar 10, 2021 · 1 share · 88 followers View post →
Ralph Turchiano
@RalphTurchiano · X

Catnip a powerful New (Rediscovered) Bug Repellent https://t.co/e5jHyUOAxL via @YouTube #catnip, #mosquitos , #insects #repellent, #repellant, #insecticides, #Nepetalactone, #ankyrin , #TRPA1, #ants , #flies, #arthropods, #invertebrates, #deetalternative, #catnipoil, #iridoids

Mar 9, 2021 · 128 followers View post →
Baldwyn Torto
@baldwyn_torto · X

The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip on @ResearchGate: https://t.co/9j7hMLdBn9

Mar 8, 2021 · 3 likes · 1 share · 677 followers View post →
Mark A Hubbard
@markahubbard · X

The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip  (Would it be as safe to humans as DEET?) https://t.co/jvH9UI4XC9 https://t.co/QBWuC1sToT

Mar 7, 2021 · 676 followers View post →
Anne Norris
@AnneNL_ · X

RT @papersofnote: I have never seen a more adorable graphical abstract than this, showing Pliny the Elder repelling mosquitoes with catnip.…

Mar 7, 2021 · 1 share · 80 followers View post →
Annika Reads
@papersofnote · X

I have never seen a more adorable graphical abstract than this, showing Pliny the Elder repelling mosquitoes with catnip. Inspired by Pliny, @MarcusStensmyr and @GallioLab show that catnip compounds repel insects (but not scorpions) via TRPA1 activation. https://t.co/FJK7HzSwUQ

Mar 6, 2021 · 4 likes · 1 share · 1,063 followers View post →
Bloodsucking Parasites
@bloodSparasites · X

RT @mosquito_papers: The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip https://t.co/w6EkAs0f1a

Mar 6, 2021 · 1 share · 5,098 followers View post →
MosquitoPapers
@mosquito_papers · X

The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip https://t.co/w6EkAs0f1a

Mar 6, 2021 · 1 like · 1 share · 2,456 followers View post →
mamiy
@mimimonotoji · X

The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip https://t.co/EwqbDadKaQ

Mar 6, 2021 · 1 like · 98 followers View post →
kobreeding
@ken05560197 · X

I've been in many situations where flies and mosquitoes make it impossible to be outside. Nice science explaining how natural extracts from herbs help. The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip https://t.co/ycY7p58kAI

Mar 5, 2021 · 19 followers View post →
Carolina Gomis-Perez
@GomisCarolina · X

RT @peter_leaf: Such an interesting finding! I like it! ---> The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip h…

Mar 5, 2021 · 5 shares · 373 followers View post →
kwitschas
@kwitschas · X

RT @peter_leaf: Such an interesting finding! I like it! ---> The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip h…

Mar 5, 2021 · 5 shares · 1,794 followers View post →
Osama Harraz
@OsamaHarraz · X

RT @peter_leaf: Such an interesting finding! I like it! ---> The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip h…

Mar 5, 2021 · 5 shares · 3,345 followers View post →
Mike McConnell
@mikemc43 · X

@CurrentBiology has always had the most interesting papers. This one even references Pliny the Elder! And tests one of his ideas. The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip https://t.co/5ih9oAJAfs

Mar 5, 2021 · 908 followers View post →
Andy Stringer
@AndyStringer · X

RT @peter_leaf: Such an interesting finding! I like it! ---> The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip h…

Mar 5, 2021 · 5 shares · 278 followers View post →
Chow
@ChowHanChua · X

RT @peter_leaf: Such an interesting finding! I like it! ---> The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip h…

Mar 5, 2021 · 5 shares · 400 followers View post →
Wenlei
@peter_leaf · X

Such an interesting finding! I like it! ---> The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip https://t.co/aHT8GOE0pL

Mar 5, 2021 · 9 likes · 5 shares · 363 followers View post →
CENEXA | CONICET-UNLP
@CenexaUnlp · X

"The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip" in @CurrentBiology by @MarcusStensmyr @Njelvez @GallioLab @flyknows TRPA1 does almost everything: olfaction, mechanosensation, gustation, thermataxis

Mar 4, 2021 · 819 followers View post →