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Bacteria from the Gulf Coast tick can be transmitted to its host within one hour of attachment before spreading rapidly to lymph nodes and internal tissues, according to new research by a recent graduate of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine.

Chanakan "Nam" Suwanbongkot, Ph.D., published findings from her dissertation research in the journal PLOS Pathogens, advancing understanding of how tick-borne bacteria enter the body and interact with the immune system. Her study, conducted in the laboratory of Kevin Macaluso, Ph.D., professor and chair of microbiology and immunology at the University of South Alabama, used a single-tick model designed to more closely reflect how people are naturally exposed to tick-borne pathogens.

"Tick-borne diseases, including spotted fever group Rickettsia, have become an increasingly important public health concern in the United States over the past few decades," Suwanbongkot said. "Although these diseases occur worldwide and reported cases of rickettsioses are rising, little is known about tick-to-vertebrate transmission biology."

The Gulf Coast tick is the primary vector for Rickettsia parkeri, the bacterium that causes R. parkeri rickettsiosis. R. parkeri can cause febrile illness and a characteristic eschar—a dark, necrotic lesion that develops at the site of a tick bite.

The research findings offer new insight into the earliest stages of infection and a foundation for future research into tick-borne disease prevention.

"This work really pushes the field forward with a thorough analysis of tick transmission of a bacterial pathogen," Macaluso said.

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