Microbiome discoveries in pathogen infected ticks

The study of vector microbiomes is important to understanding vector biology, such as vector competence.  Three important tick vectors in the southeastern United States include Amblyomma americanum (the Lone star tick) and vector of Ehrlichia to humans and canines; A. maculatum (the Gulf Coast tick) and vector of Rickettsia parkeri to humans, and Dermacentor variabilis (the American dog tick) and vector of R. rickettsia to humans. The objective of this study was to compare the microbiomes of field-collected pathogen-infected and uninfected specimens. Results will be presented.