Conflict and cooperation: the control of infectious disease

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Sci Ani

Vector-borne infections are transmitted from an infected and infectious vertebrate host to another via intermediary hematophagous arthropods. The incidence of vector-borne diseases is a growing burden worldwide accounting for over 20% of emerging infectious diseases recorded during 1940-2004.Ticks are second to mosquitoes as vectors of human pathogens, and economically important ectoparasites of domestic and wild animals. Vaccines appear as the most effective and sustainable intervention for the prevention and control of these diseases. Tick-host-pathogen interactions involve conflict and cooperation, and their characterization using combined omics technologies will lead to the identification of vaccine protective antigens. These vaccines will likely combine vector and pathogen derived antigens to target different stages of vector and pathogen life cycles for efficient, safe and environmentally sound control of infectious diseases. SaBio: http://www.sabio-irec.com/en IREC: http://www.irec.es/en/