The expression "neglected tropical diseases" (NTDs) represents a series of illnesses that affect the population of low-income countries, being vector insects responsible for the transmission of a large part of these diseases. Control tools are needed to impede contacts between humans and insects vectoring some of them. This control is currently attained by intensive insecticide use but resistance to such xenobiotics exists in the most relevant disease vector species. Therefore, alternative vector control methodologies are urgently needed to avoid most NTD transmission. The present review describes a series of molecules that could assist on developing vector control tools, which could be based on manipulating insect behaviors associated with them. Such relations include host odors used by arthropods to search for blood sources, as well as pheromones used by them to communicate in diverse contexts, e.g., reproduction. Additionally, avenues recently explored in the search of behavior modifying compounds by means of high throughput methodologies are discussed. Specifically, examples of how such methodologies mediate the search for new repellents and attractants are described.
vector insects; pheromones; kairomones; repellents
