Fig. 2.

Disrupting vector-pathogen-microbiome interactions with anti-microbiota vaccines. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing we can characterize the taxonomic profiles of the tick microbiome under single and co-infections. Co-occurrence networks can be used to identify keystone bacteria potentially involved in facilitation of individual pathogens or multi-pathogen infection. Selected keystone bacteria can be used in anti-microbiota vaccines, formulated as previously described (Mateos-Hernández et al., 2020, 2021a), to induce bacteria-specific antibodies in mice. Disruption of the tick microbiome with antibodies targeting the keystone bacteria could potentially block pathogen colonization and transmission.