Genetic Diversity in Ticks and Transmitted Pathogens

Dear Colleagues,

The incidence of tick-borne diseases affecting human and animal health worldwide is increasing rapidly and cases are regularly being reported from new areas. To face this challenge, researchers are trying to develop sustainable technologies such as vaccines, rational drug design, and methods of implementing of paratransgenesis under field conditions. Among the bottlenecks faced is the high level of genetic diversity within tick species, as well as the pathogens they transmit. Overcoming the latter will be key in the development of effective cross-protective vaccines against ticks and pathogens. Currently, modern tools are available to bridge this gap and they have been used with some success to control vectors and infectious diseases in non-tick models. However, an effective cross-protective vaccines targeting tick vector and/or pathogen remains to be registered and commercialized.

Recently, MDPI launched a Special Issue of Pathogens on “Genetic Diversity in Ticks and Transmitted Pathogens” to cover the research topics targeting basic scientific questions in order to develop suitable and effective control strategies. Potential topics include genetic diversity in economically important tick vector species, and transmitted pathogens such as Theileria, Babesia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Borrelia, Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, and flaviviruses. Topics related to development of cross-protective transmission blocking vaccines and other control interventions are also included. We also hope that the inclusion of strategies to technologies developed for non-model organisms in ticks and tick-borne diseases will also be welcomed to set the way forward.

Advances in this research area requires multidisciplinary and international collaborations for the application of latest technologies focused on tick–host–pathogen interactions together with applied parasitology, phylo- and population genetics, microbiology, epidemiology and climate change.

Dr. Srikanta Ghosh
Prof. Dr. Christine Maritz-Olivier
Prof. Dr. Jose de la Fuente
Guest Editors

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• tick-borne diseases
• tick-borne pathogens
• tick–host–pathogen interactions
• vaccines
• genetic diversity