Location: Invasive Insect Biocontrol & Behavior Laboratory
Project Number: 8042-10400-001-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated
Start Date: Oct 28, 2024
End Date: Oct 27, 2029
Objective:
Objective 1: Expand the current repertoire of tools for surveillance of human-biting ticks in order to target their populations more efficiently.
Sub-objective 1.A: Develop new surveillance tools targeting mouse reservoir hosts.
Sub-objective 1.B: Develop new surveillance tools targeting ticks.
Sub-objective 1.C: Develop population genetic tools for source tracing of Invasive tick populations.
Sub-objective 1.D: Assess acarological risk at representative public use areas in urban or suburban settings.
Objective 2: Develop and evaluate new control technologies like natural products and integrated pest management approaches for control of ticks of medical importance.
Sub-objective 2.A: Test host targeted control strategies directed at the mouse reservoir host.
Sub-objective 2.B: Test existing chemicals and new natural products for activity against ticks.
Sub-objective 2.C: Develop demonstration tick IPM projects using new approaches with commercially available products and incorporating a public outreach component.
Objective 3: Discover innovative tick control strategies by utilizing technology for fundamental research on vector-host-pathogen interactions.
Sub-objective 3.A: Develop an understanding of the core microbiome for human-biting ticks.
Sub-objective 3.B: Understand the physiological mechanisms of tick feeding and the modes of action of existing and novel compounds.
Approach:
New surveillance tools will be developed for human-biting ticks, their mouse hosts and associated tick-borne pathogens in order to target their populations more efficiently. Acarological risk will be assessed at representative public use areas in urban or suburban settings through field studies. New host-targeted tick control will be developed and evaluated through semi-field and field studies. This includes nestboxes for delivery of mouse baits containing novel pesticides and anti-microbial agents. Various natural products and associated chemical compounds will be evaluated for the development of new acaricides and more effective tick repellent products. Existing pesticides for control of agricultural and veterinary pests will be evaluated against ticks for public health applications, including development of new pesticide formulations for tick control. A demonstration tick control project that utilizes commercially available tick control products will be implemented to promote Integrated Tick Management (ITM). This includes a public outreach component to engage with residents and pest/vector control service providers. Innovative research will be conducted to uncover new molecular and physiological targets for novel tick control technologies. This includes molecular studies of the core microbiome for human-biting ticks and mode-of-action investigation of new acaricidal compounds using a novel tick membrane feeding system.
