D3014: Investigating the impact of host blood meal identity on Ixodes pacificus microbiome composition using a multi-species analysis of small mammals and reptiles

Monday, November 11, 2024

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 6, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

MC

Mariah Angel Dinglasan Cuyson (she/her/hers)

Graduate Student
San Francisco State University
Daly City, California

Co-Author(s)

Andrea Swei, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

P.I.
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

Lyme disease, caused by the pathogenic spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, and vectored by the tick species, Ixodes pacificus, on the West Coast, is one of the most commonly reported tick-borne diseases in the United States, posing a major public risk to wildlife and public health. Previous research has investigated the key natural drivers in tick microbiome variation and its role within pathogen transmission dynamics of Lyme disease and found a significant role of host blood meal identity in structuring the I. pacificus microbiota with implications for pathogen acquisition. The objective of this study is to further investigate the impact of host blood meal identity on I. pacificus microbiome composition and richness by conducting a multi-species analysis on a variety of tick blood meal hosts such as small mammals and reptiles that vary in reservoir host competency for B. burgdorferi. Engorged I. pacificus larvae burdens were collected from I. pacificus host blood meal sources in oak woodland habitats in northern California. These samples were analyzed for microbiome composition using an Illumina based next-generation sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene hypervariable V3 - V4 regions of the for microbial community identification and characterization. We found significant microbiome structuring of I. pacificus microbiota based on blood meal source. These results contribute to our understanding of microbiome diversity and its potential impact on pathogen transmission and disease risk.