Tick-borne disease (that include ixodid and argasid ticks) in vertebrate hosts is problematic worldwide both historically and currently. Traditionally, a great deal of research focuses on pathogenesis of a tick-borne pathogen within a vertebrate host or interactions of this type of pathogen within the vertebrate host. Little is known regarding the interactions of these pathogens with the tick vector(s) that are capable of transmission to a vertebrate host. It is especially important to better understand the pathogen interactions with tissue barriers to transmission and other factors within the tick vector that may affect its infection and/or transmission dynamics.
The goal of this Research Topic is to encompass exploratory, characterization, and/or mechanistic research/discussion/review associated with identification of interactions of pathogens with tick vectors. The lifecycle of pathogens within different tissues of ticks is inclusive with this research area. With an increase in technological advances over the decades, it is envisioned that combining state-of-the art technology platforms and/or new models to study pathogen infection in ticks will provide new insights. This will allow for long-standing unanswered questions and new questions to be addressed in this research area.
Research and discussion areas that involve tick-borne bacterium, virus, and/or parasite infection (that can cause vertebrate disease) in corresponding tick vectors are of interest for this Research Topic. Types of article options for this contribution include: Original Research, Methods, Review, Mini Review, Perspective, and/or Brief Research Report. Scope areas for this contribution can span:
• Model development to introduce pathogens and/or infect tick vectors
• Model development to understand pathogen transmission from tick vectors
• Vector competence studies with ticks
• Studies using pathogen-infected non-intact tick culture models (e.g. cell lines, organs, other tissue culture types) and/or whole intact tick models to understand pathogen lifecycles within the tick vector and/or tick responses to pathogen infection
• Countermeasure development/characterization studies designed to reduce tick-borne pathogen infection/transmission and associated disease that utilize tick-specific targets
Tick-borne disease (that include ixodid and argasid ticks) in vertebrate hosts is problematic worldwide both historically and currently. Traditionally, a great deal of research focuses on pathogenesis of a tick-borne pathogen within a vertebrate host or interactions of this type of pathogen within the vertebrate host. Little is known regarding the interactions of these pathogens with the tick vector(s) that are capable of transmission to a vertebrate host. It is especially important to better understand the pathogen interactions with tissue barriers to transmission and other factors within the tick vector that may affect its infection and/or transmission dynamics.
The goal of this Research Topic is to encompass exploratory, characterization, and/or mechanistic research/discussion/review associated with identification of interactions of pathogens with tick vectors. The lifecycle of pathogens within different tissues of ticks is inclusive with this research area. With an increase in technological advances over the decades, it is envisioned that combining state-of-the art technology platforms and/or new models to study pathogen infection in ticks will provide new insights. This will allow for long-standing unanswered questions and new questions to be addressed in this research area.
Research and discussion areas that involve tick-borne bacterium, virus, and/or parasite infection (that can cause vertebrate disease) in corresponding tick vectors are of interest for this Research Topic. Types of article options for this contribution include: Original Research, Methods, Review, Mini Review, Perspective, and/or Brief Research Report. Scope areas for this contribution can span:
• Model development to introduce pathogens and/or infect tick vectors
• Model development to understand pathogen transmission from tick vectors
• Vector competence studies with ticks
• Studies using pathogen-infected non-intact tick culture models (e.g. cell lines, organs, other tissue culture types) and/or whole intact tick models to understand pathogen lifecycles within the tick vector and/or tick responses to pathogen infection
• Countermeasure development/characterization studies designed to reduce tick-borne pathogen infection/transmission and associated disease that utilize tick-specific targets