Microbial Community Ecology of Tick-Borne Human Pathogens

这项研究的目的是利用基于DNA序列的技术来描述几个常见扁虱物种的微生物群落，分析微生物类群之间的共生模式，并对这些模式对扁虱传播病原体流行病学动态的影响进行数学模拟。特别是，将对扁虱传播的微生物群落进行分析，以寻找物种之间竞争排斥或相互促进的证据。物种间的生态相互作用是形成群落结构的重要因素之一。许多研究表明，扁虱可能同时携带多种细菌，包括通过鸡蛋传播的共生体和通过叮咬传播的病原体。栖息地的改变，媒介媒介范围的扩大，以及共享动物宿主种群的增加，使得病原微生物更有可能在硬蜱物种之间移动。在全球范围内，比起其他任何节肢动物，扁虱是传播更多人类病原体的媒介。在美国，绝大多数病媒传播疾病的病例都是由壁虱叮咬引起的(例如莱姆病)，新的壁虱传播病原体也在不断被发现。这项研究将有助于我们对节肢动物微生物群落的基本了解和病原体传播的流行病学。此外，这项研究将对硬虱传播疾病的管理和我们理解硬质媒介入侵与新的或更高毒力的人类病原体的出现之间的关系具有实际影响。

The goal of this research is to characterize the microbial communities of several common tick species using DNA sequence-based techniques, analyze patterns of co-occurrence among microbial taxa, and mathematically model the consequences of those patterns on epidemiological dynamics of tick-borne pathogens. In particular, tick-borne microbial communities will be analyzed for evidence of competitive exclusion or mutual facilitation among species. Ecological interactions among species are one of the most important factors shaping community structure. Much research has demonstrated that ticks may simultaneously harbor multiple bacterial species, including symbionts transmitted through eggs and pathogens transmitted through bites. Habitat alteration, expanding ranges of tick vectors, and increased populations of shared animal hosts make the movement of pathogenic microorganisms among tick species more likely. On a worldwide basis, ticks serve as vectors for more human pathogens than any other arthropod. In the United States, the large majority of cases of vector-borne disease arise from tick bites (e.g. Lyme Disease), and new tick-borne pathogens are regularly being discovered. This research will contribute to our basic understanding of microbial communities of arthropods and the epidemiology of pathogen transmission. Further, this research will have a practical impact on management of tick-borne diseases and our understanding of the relationship between invasion of tick vectors and the emergence of novel, or more highly virulent, human pathogens.