<i>In vitro</i> feeding assays for hard ticks

Prevention of tick bites and transmission of tick-borne pathogens requires the use of molecules that target physiological processes crucial to both tick and pathogen survival. These molecules are best tested in standardized <i>in vitro</i> assays. Because hard ticks require several days to feed to repletion, the development of <i>in vitro</i> feeding assays for these species is challenging. A standard and easily automated feeding assay has been developed for the tick <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> that involves feeding on blood through a membrane that mimics the elasticity of skin. The system can be adapted to feed other hard tick species <i>in vitro</i>. This assay permits, among others, investigations on the role of tick endosymbionts on tick survival, the identification of potential vaccine candidates and drugs, and the application of genomic tools <i>in vitro</i>, including RNA interference experiments.