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Every mosquito has a type — and you may not be it

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Study debunks the “mosquito magnet” myth — and lays groundwork for next generation of repellents to fight dengue, Zika and West Nile 

MIAMI, Aug. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — There is no such thing as a universal mosquito magnet.

In a new study published in iScience, Florida International University (FIU) researchers pitted 119 human volunteers against three of the world’s most dangerous mosquito species and found that not one person was attractive to all three. Every species had its own type. Attraction was largely driven by chemistry — an individual’s body chemistry.

This single finding could reshape how the world fights mosquito-borne disease. Because each species decodes human scent differently, the results could help scientists develop next-generation, species-specific repellents.

“Isolating the components of human odor that attract or repel mosquitoes could lead to novel strategies to combat vector-borne diseases,” said Matthew DeGennaro, a neurogeneticist who leads the research team and directs the Biomolecular Sciences Institute at FIU, Miami’s state university. 

The three species studied — Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) and Culex quinquefasciatus (southern house mosquito) — together spread yellow fever, dengue, Zika, West Nile and other diseases. The study, led by Ph.D. student Kaylee Marrero, is the first to directly compare how multiple mosquito species respond to the same people. 

“We didn’t expect the species to prefer different people when we started the study,” Marrero said. “Each species having a distinct microbial signature that they use as a cue was so surprising to me.” 

Each species had a distinct set of turn-ons and turn-offs: 

Aedes aegypti preferred people wearing no added scent whose skin lacked certain volatile compounds. These daytime feeders showed a slight preference for men over women. Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger) was drawn to elevated ketones and plant-like volatile compounds naturally secreted by skin. Like Aedes aegypti, it feeds during the day. Culex quinquefasciatus (southern house) fed after dark and keyed in on the skin microbiome — the microscopic ecosystem of bacteria, fungi and microbes naturally living on people’s skin. Some bacterial families were a green light to feed; others drove the mosquitoes away. 

Human scent is a complex space of more than 1,000 volatile organic compounds, many still uncharacterized. Rather than agreeing on who was most attractive, each species consistently favored a different subset of people — evidence that the species have evolved distinct ways of sensing humans. Alongside the preference tests, the team collected odor and microbiome samples to identify which compounds and bacteria were present, and at what levels. 

“This connected so well with the differences in skin bacteria and odors,” DeGennaro said. “It is clear to me now that our skin microbiomes define our human odor signature. Each species found its own way to decode that signature.” 

By mapping these species-specific chemical cues, the FIU team is laying the groundwork for repellents and public health strategies tailored to the mosquito that matters most in a given region.

Photos and videos for media use are available via Dropbox

Media Contact:
JoAnn Adkins
305-348-0398
jadkins@fiu.edu
news.fiu.edu
@FIU

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SOURCE Florida International University

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Agoda and Hoshino Reflect on Partnership: ‘Trust and Feedback Were Key’

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TOKYO, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda CEO Omri Morgenshtern and Hoshino Resorts CEO Yoshiharu Hoshino recently convened at HOSHINOYA Tokyo, sharing insights on the successful first months of their partnership. The leaders highlighted the strong relationship formed through Agoda’s serious commitment to feedback from Hoshino, fostering a collaboration grounded in continuous improvement and innovation.

The collaboration has seen both companies working closely to enhance their offerings and improve customer experiences. Agoda and Hoshino Resorts began their partnership in November last year with a focus on addressing challenges in room bookings and customer satisfaction. Agoda’s robust engineering teams in Bangkok, India, and Singapore played a crucial role in resolving initial issues, leading to a swift improvement in service quality. This proactive approach laid the foundation for a strong partnership built on trust and mutual respect.

Omri Morgenshtern, CEO of Agoda, emphasized the importance of feedback in their collaboration. “When we received feedback from Hoshino-san, we knew we needed to make changes quickly. Our engineering team set targets and made decisive improvements, proving that we don’t just talk about change—we make it happen. This approach has been the basis of our relationship with Hoshino Resorts, and we’re excited about the win-win situations this partnership brings,” Morgenshtern shared.

During the conversation, Yoshiharu Hoshino, CEO of Hoshino Resorts, echoed these sentiments, noting the benefits of working with Agoda. He highlighted that Agoda’s commitment to understanding local cultures and adapting their services has been instrumental in the partnership. He also emphasized that Agoda’s ability to move quickly and implement changes has made a significant impact on their operations, and expressed his enthusiasm to continuing the fruitful collaboration.

The partnership between Agoda and Hoshino Resorts exemplifies how taking actionable feedback seriously can lead to successful collaborations. Agoda now has the widest selection of Hoshino’s iconic properties available on its global platform, including the recent addition of new properties: HOSHINOYA Bali, HOSHINOYA Nara Prison, Hoshino Resorts KAI Matsumoto, Hoshino Resorts KAI Miyajima, and Hoshino Resorts KAI Zao. Notably, HOSHINOYA Bali is the first Hoshino property outside Japan to be available on Agoda, opening new doors for international travelers. 

For more information, visit Agoda.com and discover the best deals on Agoda’s mobile app.

— ENDS —

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SOURCE Agoda

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Olight’s Best-Selling Clip Light Evolves: Oclip 2 Series Rotates and Tilts to Aim Where You Need It

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HOUSTON, Sept. 21, 2026 /CNW/ — Olight launched the Oclip 2 Series during its O-Fan Day event, introducing the Oclip 2 Pro and Oclip 2 Ultra designed for mechanics, public safety professionals, outdoor enthusiasts and anyone who requires fully adjustable, hands-free lighting with multiple light sources. The Oclip 2 Series represents the next generation of Olight’s best-selling clip-light line, a product line with more than one million users worldwide.

Both models feature an all-new dual-axis design that tilts the head up to 115° and rotates the clip a full 360°, allowing the beam to be freely aimed as needed after mounting without repositioning the mounting point. Self-locking pivots hold the selected angle in place. Durability testing covered 10,000 clipping cycles for the clip and 10,000 rotation cycles for the dual-axis mechanism.

The Oclip 2 Pro integrates three lighting modes in one compact body: pure flood, spot, and red light. Flood output reaches up to 530 lumens, spot range up to 125 meters, and red output up to 40 lumens.

Building on the Oclip 2 Pro’s three-light configuration, the Oclip 2 Ultra adds UV light through an industry-first R/UV emitter that integrates red and UV light within its compact body, bringing the total to four light sources. Flood output reaches up to 580 lumens and spot range up to 130 meters, while UV output reaches up to 800 mW for inspections. Beyond lighting performance, the Oclip 2 Ultra adds an exclusive OAL aluminum body and head that combine high strength with scratch resistance, alongside the new OclipBeat breathing light, which changes color based on cumulative usage time.

Across the Oclip 2 Series, dual magnets at the MCC tail and clip allow the light to be secured to compatible metal surfaces in different orientations for hands-free illumination.

Both models support USB-C and MCC charging. Each Premium version includes a 1,000 mAh Mobile Charging Dock that automatically recharges the light on the go, extends total runtime to approximately twice that of the light alone, and displays the battery levels of both the light and dock.

The Oclip 2 Pro comes in Classic Black, High-Visibility Orange, and Tidal Blue, while the Oclip 2 Ultra comes in Olive Green, Onyx Black, and Amber Orange. Both models are available worldwide through the Olight Official Store, Amazon, and authorized retailers. Standard versions are priced at $49.99 for the Oclip 2 Pro and $69.99 for the Oclip 2 Ultra; pricing for other versions is available on the Olight Official Store.

About Olight

Founded in 2007, Olight is a global innovator in portable lighting, offering high-tech solutions for everyday carry, outdoor, tactical, and professional use. With over 1,200 patents and iF and Red Dot design recognitions, Olight serves users in over 100 countries.

Contact:
pr@olight.com 

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SOURCE Olight Group Co., Ltd

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Kakao Group Announces MoU with Fireblocks to Explore Digital Asset Opportunities in Korea

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Kakao Pay and Kakao Bank sign an MoU with global infrastructure leader Fireblocks to lay the groundwork for a digital asset ecosystem in KoreaThe companies will jointly explore Korean market opportunities in digital assets, including stablecoinsThe initiative aims to assess solutions suited to local regulatory, security, and service requirements

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kakao Pay and Kakao Bank have signed a memorandum of understanding with Fireblocks to explore secure digital asset infrastructure in Korea.

The agreement is intended to help establish secure onchain infrastructure for Korea’s emerging digital asset market and strengthen its early ecosystem. This initiative leverages Kakao’s nationwide reach, expertise across fintech and banking, and core blockchain technology. The companies expect their collaboration with Fireblocks—which has deployed digital asset infrastructure for over 2,500 global institutions including more than 100 banks—to accelerate that effort.

Under the agreement, the three companies will jointly explore business opportunities based on Korea’s market conditions and infrastructure demand. With a focus on stablecoins, they will explore digital asset distribution frameworks suited to Korea’s regulatory, security, and service requirements. They also plan to conduct proof-of-concept (PoC) tests to assess the applicability of these frameworks, as part of a shared effort to build the digital asset ecosystem.

“For banks and payment platforms in Korea, leveraging reliable digital asset infrastructure that is engineered to meet institutional requirements from day one is critically important,” said Michael Shaulov, CEO and Co-Founder of Fireblocks. “This is the prerequisite for widespread adoption, and Kakao Pay and Kakao Bank are setting the groundwork now.”

“We are pleased to collaborate with Fireblocks, the global leader in digital asset infrastructure,” said Yun Ho-young, CEO of Kakao Bank and Co-Head of Kakao Group’s Stablecoin Task Force. “By combining our technology and expertise, we will develop secure and accessible digital asset services that expand our customers’ financial opportunities.”

“The success of Korea’s emerging digital asset market depends on the reliable flow of digital asset distribution,” said Shin Won-keun, CEO of Kakao Pay and Co-Head of Kakao Group’s Stablecoin Task Force. “Our strategic alliance with Fireblocks, a leading global infrastructure provider, lays an important foundation for that.”

About Fireblocks

Fireblocks is the world’s most trusted digital asset infrastructure company, empowering global institutions to build, manage and grow their business on the blockchain. With the industry’s most scalable and secure platform, we streamline stablecoin payments, settlement, custody, tokenization, trading, accounting operations, and compliance reporting – enabling everything from institutional finance to consumer-facing digital experiences across the largest ecosystem of banks, payment providers, stablecoin issuers, exchanges and custodians. Thousands of organizations – including Worldpay, BNY, Galaxy, and Revolut – trust Fireblocks to secure $16 trillion in digital asset transactions across 200+ blockchains. Learn more at fireblocks.com 

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SOURCE Fireblocks

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