Identification of tick biomarkers as a diagnostic and surveillance tool

In Sweden, a significant number of people are exposed to and bitten by ticks depending on the region they live in or on their occupation and hobbies.

Ticks are a major arthropod vector and transmit diseases such as Tick Borne Encephalitis and Babesiosis but may also host unknown pathogens of concern.

Further, different tick species carry different diseases and with recent discovery of the Hyalomma species in Sweden, reliable and quick measures are need to surveille the presence and potential spread of this species.

Anti-tick immunity against injected salivary proteins from tick feedings have been described however it is unknown which proteins elicit a protective, immunogenic response.

This proposal aims to identify biomarkers from human sera after exposure to ticks that would aid in assessing introduction and spread of known tick species. I, Alexis Dziedziech will screen for candidate proteins which will be identified from available transcriptomic data.

In the first two years at Institut Pasteur, I will first identify candidates from I. ricinus and later homology of the selected proteins will be compared to other tick species of concern.

Finally, at Lund University, I will test the identified biomarkers and their use as field and clinical assessment tools of tick bites by species. This project can lead to development of a rapid diagnostic tools based on tick biomarkers. This work will greatly aid in the surveillance, diagnosis and downstream treatment of Tick Borne Disease.