MOLECULAR GENETICS ANALYSIS OF WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE POPULATIONS TO UNDERSTAND HOST-TICK-PATHOGEN INTERACTIONS

The main objective of this project is to use molecular genetics tools to understand rodent-tick-pathogen interactions to aid development of more effective host(rodent)-targeted tick control technologies/products. Specific goals include (1) to investigate movements of white-footed mice at different ecological niches by analyzing the molecular markers of the mouse populations; (2) to investigate the effect of geographical barriers on the genetic structure of white-footed mouse populations; (3) to investigate the effect of pathogen infection kinetics in relation to the genetic diversity of white-footed mice; and (4) to investigate the effect of tick abundance in relation to genetic diversity of white-footed mice.