Characterization of the bacterial communities of life stages of free living lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum).

ABSTRACT: The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is an abundant and aggressive biter of humans, domestic animals, and wildlife in the southeastern-central USA and an important vector of several known and suspected zoonotic bacterial pathogens. However, the biological drivers of bacterial community variation in this tick are still poorly defined. Knowing the community context in which tick-borne bacterial pathogens exist and evolve is required to fully understand the ecology and immunobiology of the ticks and to design effective public health and veterinary interventions. We performed a metagenomic survey of the bacterial communities of questing A. americanum and tested 131 individuals (66 nymphs, 24 males, and 41 females) from five sites in three states. Pyrosequencing was performed with barcoded

SUBMITTER: Williams-Newkirk AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4108322 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature