Microbial Interactions in Ticks: Pathogen–Pathogen and Pathogen–Non-Pathogenic Microorganism Dynamics in Coinfections
A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Ticks".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 15
Special Issue Editors
Interests: microbial ecology; ticks-borne pathogen; microbiome analysis; biological network approach; One Health
Interests: ticks; tick‑borne pathogens; microbial molecular biology; microbiology; infectious disease epidemiology; zoonotic diseases; microbial interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: ticks; microbiome; vector-borne pathogens; coinfections; pathogen–pathogen interactions; microbial ecology; molecular epidemiology; multi-omics tools
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Hard (Ixodidae) and soft (Argasidae) ticks constitute a complex ecosystem hosting diverse and interacting microbial communities. When multiple microorganisms coexist within the same tick, their relationships can reshape transmission dynamics, alter microbiota structure, and influence the biology of the vector. This Special Issue highlights the tick–pathogen–microbiome triad, encouraging studies that explore these relationships through simultaneous multi‑pathogen detection, multi‑omics and systems approaches, experimental coinfection models, and intervention strategies. The presence or absence of coinfections may reveal synergistic, antagonistic, or neutral effects shaping infection outcomes. We seek contributions on infection dynamics under varied conditions and the role of biotic and abiotic factors across hosts and regions, to identify ecological and evolutionary drivers. Studies on tick microbiome analysis are also welcome, particularly those linking microbial ecology to pathogen behavior and to impacts on tick physiology, transcriptomics, and vector competence.
The suggested topics include the following:
- Simultaneous multi‑pathogen detection technologies;
- Synergistic, antagonistic, or neutral microbial interactions during coinfection;
- Spatio‑temporal patterns of tick‑borne coinfections;
- Influence of ecological factors on infection dynamics and microbial interactions;
- Tick microbiome analysis;
- Effects of microbial interactions on tick physiology and vector competence;
- Novel analytical approaches or modeling of microbial interactions in ticks.
Dr. Elianne Piloto-Sardiñas
Dr. Islay Rodríguez
Dr. Huarrisson Azevedo Santos
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- tick-borne pathogens
- microbial interactions
- tick-borne coinfection
- microbiome
- vector competence
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