Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!watmath!iuvax!uxc.cso.uiuc.edu!tank!scb1
From: scb1@tank.uchicago.edu (Sam Blackman)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: What's the Why and How of Mosquito Bites?
Message-ID: <4948@tank.uchicago.edu>
Date: 11 Aug 89 14:46:34 GMT
References: <5399@mtgzy.att.com>
Reply-To: scb1@tank.uchicago.edu (Sam Blackman)
Organization: University of Chicago
Lines: 42



Well, I guess I'll take it point by point ...

>Why does a mosquito bite swell up and itch?

Because you are experiencing a localized allergic reaction (as opposed to
a systemic allergic reaction) to the mosquito's saliva, which is injected
(amongst other things) into your skin.  This allergic reaction (ala IgE)
causes the release of histamine, which is a vasodialator.  The local
vasodialation results in the redness and swelling, and I believe that the
release of histamine from mast cells causes the itching.

>What goes on under the skin?

See above ...

>How does the mosquito benefit from it?

Well first off, only female mosquito's "bite" us.  What they are really
doing is drawing blood from us.  The mosquito has a tube-like probiscus
which is inserts into us (along with an anesthetic-type substance).  The
mosquito then injects it's saliva and withdraws blood, which it uses as
food.

>Can the mosquito's poison be used to human advantage?

I hardly know a poison that is used to human advantage - human demise, that's
another story.  The mosquito is poison-free - what causes the reaction is
it's saliva - and I don't see much human use in that ...

>Any pointers to literature?

If you're interested in localized allergic reactions, IgE-type reactions,
basic immunology, etc. you might want to hit the Rutgers Bookstore and
check out their medical books section ...

-- 
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