Vector cognition and neurobiology.

The processing and integration of sensory information are central to the ability of disease vector insects to find their hosts, and eventually transmit diseases. Deciphering the underlying mechanisms and the modulation of their behavioral responses to host cues is likely to reveal molecular pathways and neural processes, which could then be targeted for reducing the transmission rates of pathogens. In addition, the double role of prey and predator played by hosts imposes unique challenges on vectors, making them an underexploited model to study the evolution of sensory neurobiology and of cognitive processes in miniature brains. Here, I review the most recent advances on the cognitive abilities of triatomine bugs and mosquitoes, with a particular emphasis on their ability to learn and remember information. Published by Elsevier Inc.