Research in my laboratory focuses on the arthropod vectors of deadly infectious disease agents and attempts to use functional genomics tools to identify tick-derived proteins required for prolonged blood-feeing and pathogen infection in the mammalian host. Our long-term goal is to reduce or block the spreading of vector-borne diseases by interfering with/blocking the mediating role of vector proteins. We are investigating the capacity of vector saliva immuno-modulatory factors at the vector-host interface with an overall aim to block their detrimental action to the host. Vector-borne diseases affect most parts of the world and constitute serious current day public health problems in vital need of solutions. Arthropod vectors also serve as a potential means of introducing, propagating and spreading agents of public health significance. The current work in my laboratory focuses on Amblyomma maculatum, vector of Rickettsia parkeri; we are using high-throughput molecular strategies to identify tick saliva-derived molecules capable of stimulating disease-preventing tick rejection or pathogen transmission-blocking responses.
