Pathogens associated with the landscape are subject to various influences from the biotic and abiotic environment. Understanding the interactions between pathogens, hosts, and their environment can help develop intervention strategies to reduce risk.
The spread of pathogens transmitted by ticks or other hematophagous animals depends directly on the environmental conditions that affect their vectors and their hosts. They also determine whether and how such pathogens spread to new areas and become established. Under optimal environmental conditions for hosts and vectors, transmission hotspots can form in the landscape where the pathogen is efficiently maintained. Anthropogenic disturbances can improve conditions for vectors and hosts in the landscape, leading to increased risk of infection locally. Therefore, a better understanding of the complex interplay between pathogen, host, and vector may help to modify specific landscape features to break the transmission cycle in areas heavily frequented by humans.
Thus, the focus of our research is to identify biotic and abiotic factors that control the transmission cycle of Lyme disease pathogens and other tick-borne pathogens in the wild. The castor bean tick, Ixodes ricinus, serves as a vector for these pathogens and is widespread throughout Germany. Using laboratory experiments, field studies, and various modeling approaches, we are investigating the interactions between the common wood tick, its hosts and pathogens, and how it adapts to its environment.