Challenging the generalist paradigm: Leveraging tick chemical ecology for new control methods

项目摘要 黑腿蜱是莱姆病病原体伯氏疏螺旋体的主要媒介。一 人们忽视了对蜱虫宿主选择的基本认识。这个探索性项目的主要目标 是为了更好地了解蜱虫选择宿主到成功的宿主选择过程， 寄生，并确定候选挥发性有机化合物（VOC的），可能会影响主机 景点以前的分析和我们自己的数据都记录了特定宿主上蜱虫负担的增加 物种而不是其他物种，即使共享一个重叠的生态位，表明宿主在蜱虫负担中的作用。同种 蜱虫负担也可能在蜱虫宿主接受中起作用。了解蜱虫宿主选择的影响， 相关的挥发性化合物，将为开发新的蜱类提供重要的基础和见解 控制方法，推动预防性管理，通过降低蜱传疾病的风险来改善人类健康。 疾病传播。为了实现这一目标，我们将在宿主行为中使用活啮齿类宿主的组合 分析和嗅觉研究，以确定对蜱吸引力的影响，然后将确定候选 使用气相色谱法（GC）和EI和CI GC-质谱法测定化合物。具体目标是： ·具体目标1 -对现场主持人的吸引力：确定我是否选择主持人。肩胛肌是一个故意或 对活宿主的随机反应，如果成功的寄生受宿主行为和/或物种的影响， 差异 ·目标1.1。确定I的差异。肩胛骨宿主在红背田鼠和白色田鼠之间的选择 足鼠 ·目标1.2。确定I的差异。肩胛骨宿主在红背田鼠和白色田鼠之间的选择 有同种蜱寄生的足鼠。 ·目标1.3。确定影响寄生蜂成功寄生的寄主行为因素。肩突 红背田鼠和白足鼠的区别 ·具体目标2 -对气味的吸引力：确定是否有和没有同种蜱的宿主的气味 负担吸引我。肩胛肌 ·目标2.1。确定I的吸引力。红背田鼠和白足鼠的气味 ·目标2.2。确定I的吸引力。肩胛肌对同种蜱虫气味的敏感度 ·目标2.3。确定I的吸引力。红背田鼠和白足鼠的气味 同种寄生 ·具体目标3。评价和鉴定由I. 肩胛肌、红背田鼠和白足鼠影响I.肩胛肌吸引力

PROJECT SUMMARY Blacklegged ticks are the primary vector of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. A basic understanding of tick host selection has been neglected. The major goal of this exploratory project is to better understand the process of host selection from tick host choice to successful parasitism, and identify candidate volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) that may influence host attraction. Previous analyses and our own data have documented increased tick burdens on specific host species and not others, even when sharing an overlapping niche suggesting host roles in tick burdens. Conspecific tick burdens may also play a role in tick host acceptance. Understanding the influences on tick host selection and associated volatile compounds, will provide important foundation and insight for the development of novel tick control methods, driving preventative management and improve human health by reducing the risk of tick-borne disease transmission. To accomplish this goal, we will use a combination of live rodent hosts in host behavior analysis and olfactometer studies to determine influences on tick attraction, and then will identify candidate compounds using gas chromatography (GC) and EI and CI GC-mass spectrometry. The specific aims are: • Specific aim 1 – Attraction to live hosts: To determine if host choice by I. scapularis is a deliberate or random response to live hosts, and if successful parasitism is affected by host behavior and/or species differences. • Objective 1.1. Determine differences of I. scapularis host choice between live red-backed voles and white- footed mice. • Objective 1.2. Determine differences of I. scapularis host choice between live red-backed voles and white- footed mice with conspecific tick parasitism. • Objective 1.3. Determine host behavioral factors influencing successful parasitism of I. scapularis between red-backed voles and white-footed mice. • Specific aim 2 – Attraction to odors: To determine if odors of hosts with and without conspecific tick burdens attract I. scapularis. • Objective 2.1. Determine attraction of I. scapularis to odors from red-backed voles and white-footed mice • Objective 2.2. Determine attraction of I. scapularis to odors from groups of conspecific ticks. • Objective 2.3. Determine attraction of I. scapularis to odors from red-backed voles and white-footed mice with conspecific parasitism. • Specific aim 3. To assess and identify candidate volatile compounds expressed by I. scapularis, red-backed voles, and white-footed mice influencing I. scapularis attraction.