REVSYS - Exploiting a large existing resource for biogeographical and host-parasite data: linking immature and adult amblyommine ticks

蜱是人类和动物疾病的重要媒介。为了制定有效的控制策略，准确鉴定这些蜱是至关重要的，包括鉴定三个活跃的生活史阶段-幼虫、若虫（即，未成熟阶段）和成年阶段。目前的项目集中在一个世界范围内和不同的蜱类。成年人通常是众所周知的，但虽然自然历史收藏包括大量的未成熟阶段，他们往往不能与这些成年人。该项目旨在通过以下方式解决这一问题：（1）利用遗传数据（即，条形码）将未成熟体与成年体联系起来;（2）提供未成熟体和成年体的描述，包括开发所有阶段的在线识别关键词;（3）研究物种之间的进化关系。利用收集到的信息，将检验关于地理分布和宿主关系的假设。该项目将为两名研究生和几名本科生提供蜱虫识别和数据库开发和管理方面的培训。所产生的在线资源将使公共卫生专业人员和公众能够方便地获得大量信息。此外，收集的数据将允许蜱虫作为模式生物在地理学和主机协会的研究。来自北美两个最大收藏的所有标本都将以数据为基础，所有信息都将通过网络访问。

Ticks are very important vectors of human and animal disease agents. In order to develop effective control strategies, accurate identification of these ticks is critical, including identification of the three active life history stages - larva, nymph (i.e., immature stages) and adult. The current project focuses on a worldwide and diverse group of ticks. Adults are generally well known, but while natural-history collections include large numbers of immature stages, they often cannot be associated with those adults. This project aims to address this problem by (1) using genetic data (i.e., barcoding) to associate immatures with adults, (2) providing descriptions of the immatures and adults, including development of on-line identification keys to all stages, and (3) studying evolutionary relationships among the species. Using the information gathered, hypotheses on geographical distributions and host associations will be tested. The project will provide training in tick identification and database development and management for two graduate and several undergraduate students. The generated on-line resources will allow easy access to an enormous amount of information for public health professionals and the general public. Moreover, the assembled data will allow ticks to be used as a model organism in studies of biogeography and host associations. All specimens from the two largest collections in North America will be data-based and all information will be web accessible.