Fig. 4.

Impact of co-infections and potential coevolution on infection-related traits of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum. A Lineages of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum experimentally coevolved under single infection and co-infection under short-term and/or long-term continuous subculture can be used in transmission experiments. B Evolved pathogens can be inoculated in susceptible mice host (1), followed by tick larvae infestation for pathogen acquisition (2). After molting (3), infected nymphs are placed on naïve mice for pathogen transmission (3). C Pathogen replication in ticks and mice can be measured by real time PCR and compared between groups. The impact of co-infection on murine Lyme borreliosis severity (e.g. Lyme arthritis) can also be measured.