Avance en el estudio del microbioma de garrapatas: una visión hologenómica en busca de nuevas estrategias para su control Advances in the study of the tick microbiome: a hologenomic view in search of new strategies for its control

Abstract

Abstract

Ticks are hematophagous ectoparasites that transmit various infectious agents, including bacteria that affect humans and other animals, and whose diseases generate important economic losses. However, the mechanisms involving the tick microbiota and the pathogen in the vector during the transmission process remain unclear. Currently, it is known that arthropods are capable of harboring a great biodiversity of microorganisms including, bacteria, protozoa, fungi and viruses, that play fundamental roles in establishment, reproduction, physiology, nutrition, and probably also with vectorial capacity. In this sense, the pathogen-microbiota relationship represents a black box of interactions that could bring us closer to the elucidation and understanding of vector-borne diseases. To date, several metagenomic studies have been used to characterize the microbiome of different hosts, and more recently of many arthropod vectors of veterinary-medical importance. However, little is known about the influence of the microbiota on vectorial capacity, which is important to better understand the hologenomic relationship that vectors have with the pathogens they transmit, and even with the non-pathogenic bacteria they possess. The elucidation of the biological relationships between the microorganisms present in ticks, the pathogens/non-pathogens they transmit and their host will provide invaluable information that will contribute to the development of novel strategies for the control of arthropod pests and vector-borne pathogens.