Targeting the tick microbiota to disturb tick fitness and hinder their vector competence to rickettsiae

• Grant number: 22/08257-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: March 01, 2023
• End date: February 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Entomology and Malacology of Parasites and Vectors
• Principal Investigator: Andréa Cristina Fogaça
• Grantee: Andréa Cristina Fogaça
• Host Investigator: Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Biologie Moléculaire et d'Immunologie Parasitaires (BIPAR), France

Abstract

Ticks are obligate blood-sucking arthropods and vectors of numerouspathogens that cause severe diseases to humans and other animals, being of interest from the 'One Health' point of view. Besides life-threatening animal life, ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) also cause severe losses to the global economy, by decreasing animal productivity. Currently, tick control relies mainly on the use of acaricides, which are harmful to the environment and to animal health and can select resistant ticks. Therefore, new and safe strategies are needed for the sustainable control of ticks and TBDs. In addition to pathogens, ticks harbor comensal microorganisms that constitute their resident microbiota. In addition to confer biological advantages to the tick, such as playing a role in their development and reproduction, the resident microbiota can also exert a positive or a negative effect on vector competence. Due to their role on vector fitness and competence, the tick microbiota is an attractive target for the development of strategies for the tick control and for the control of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). Recently, anti-microbiota vaccines were introduced as a tool to disrrupt the vector microbiota, a strategy that can alter fitness as well as block pathogen development within arthropod vectors. In this context, the main aim of this post-doctoral project is to target tick specific microbiota bacteria to disturb tick fitness and/or impair rickettsial infection. (AU)