Lucas Tirloni, Ph.D.

Human vector-borne diseases in the United States are primarily tick-borne. These diseases have rapidly become a serious and growing threat to public health. As blood-feeding arthropods, ticks salivate while puncturing host skin in search of blood. Tick saliva contains compounds with anticoagulant, vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory functions. While aiding the tick in feeding, tick saliva also modifies the site where pathogens are injected, often facilitating the infection process.

The time required for ticks to transmit pathogens varies depending on the pathogen. For Lyme disease, ticks generally need to be attached for at least 36 – 48 hours before Borrelia burgdorferi transmission occurs. Similarly, Anaplasma phagocytophilum (anaplasmosis) and Borrelia miyamotoi (relapsing fever) transmission likely require more than 24 hours. Babesia microti (the causative agent of babesiosis) is also unlikely to be transmitted within the first 36 hours of tick attachment. Therefore, removing an infected tick within 24 hours significantly reduces the risk of contracting these tick-borne pathogens. Understanding the mechanisms that govern the early stages of tick feeding is crucial for tick biology research. Disrupting these processes offers potential strategies for controlling tick feeding and pathogen transmission.

Studies characterizing molecular and cellular signaling pathways in tick salivary glands and midguts may help us understand the factors necessary for successful blood meal acquisition and vector competence. Insights gained from these pathways could reveal new molecular targets for controlling ticks and preventing the transmission of tick-borne pathogens. Additionally, studies investigating the roles of skin-derived proteases and the impact of tick salivary proteins on wound healing are of significant interest. Tick-borne diseases typically begin in the skin after a tick inoculates the pathogen into the host. However, there is limited information on the early skin response to wound healing following a tick bite, as well as the physiological roles of skin-derived proteases and their influence on tick feeding, pathogen establishment, and disease progression.