Skin Microbiome with “Living Repellent” Reduces Mosquito Attraction

A microbiome-based mosquito repellent is being developed by engineering common human skin commensals to produce much less of a form of lactic acid known to attract mosquitoes. In experiments with mice, protection lasted 7 to 11 days, longer than the 4 to 8 hours common with DEET. In other words: less spray, more stay.