title: The characterization and manipulation of the bacterial microbiome of the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In North America, ticks are the most economically impactful vectors of human and animal pathogens. The Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni (Acari: Ixodidae), transmits Rickettsia rickettsii and Anaplasma marginale to humans and cattle, respectively. In recent years, studies have shown that symbiotic organisms are involved in a number of biochemical and physiological functions. Characterizing the bacterial microbiome of D. andersoni is a pivotal step towards understanding symbiont-host interactions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, we have shown by high-throughput sequence analysis that the composition of endosymbionts in the midgut and salivary glands in adult ticks is dynamic over three generations. Four Proteobacteria genera, Rickettsia, Francisella, Arsenophonus, and Acinetobacter, were identified as predominant symbionts in these two tissues. Exposure to therapeutic doses of the broad-spectrum antibiotic, oxytetracycline, affected both proportions of predominant genera and significantly reduced reproductive fitness. Additionally, Acinetobacter, a free-living ubiquitous microbe, invaded the bacterial microbiome at different proportions based on antibiotic treatment status suggesting that microbiome composition may have a role in susceptibility to environmental contaminants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study characterized the bacterial microbiome in D. andersoni and determined the generational variability within this tick. Furthermore, this study confirmed that microbiome manipulation is associated with tick fitness and may be a potential method for biocontrol.
authors.affiliation: School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-7010, USA. kclayton@vetmed.wsu.edu.
authors.forename: Katie A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-7040, USA. cgall@vetmed.wsu.edu.
authors.forename: Cory A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gall
authors.affiliation: Animal Disease Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-6630, USA. kmason@vetmed.wsu.edu.
authors.forename: Katheen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.affiliation: Animal Disease Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-6630, USA. Scoles@vetmed.wsu.edu.
authors.forename: Glen A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Scoles
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-7040, USA. kbrayton@vetmed.wsu.edu.
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Brayton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001096:Arachnid Vectors; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D003870:Dermacentor / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D064307:Microbiota; D009656:North America; D012098:Reproduction; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000382:microbiology; D013559:Symbiosis; D014934:Wood / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents