Frankenbacteriosis targeting interactions between pathogen and symbiont to control infection in the tick vector.

Tick microbiota can be targeted for the control of tick-borne diseases such as human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) caused by model pathogen, . Frankenbacteriosis is inspired by Frankenstein and defined here as paratransgenesis of tick symbiotic/commensal bacteria to mimic and compete with tick-borne pathogens. Interactions between and symbiotic identified by metaproteomics analysis in midgut showed competition between both bacteria. Consequently, was selected for frankenbacteriosis for the control of infection and transmission. The results showed that Franken producing major surface protein 4 (MSP4) mimic pathogen and reduce infection in ticks by competition and interaction with cell receptor components of infection. Franken -MSP4 transovarial and trans-stadial transmission suggests that tick larvae with genetically modified Franken -MSP4 could be produced in the laboratory and released in the field to compete and replace the wildtype populations with associated reduction in pathogen infection/transmission and HGA disease risks.