D. M. Tufts

The paper investigates genetic diversity in Borrelia burgdorferi across different hosts and finds that genotype-specific host adaptation contributes to maintaining intraspecific diversity and influences disease risk.

The paper identifies CspA as a determinant of host tropism in Lyme disease bacteria, showing convergent evolution drives transmission differences among vertebrates.

This study investigates host specialization in Lyme disease bacteria by testing different genotypes in reservoir hosts, finding that bacterial persistence depends on adhesion and immune evasion traits.

The paper characterizes the gut microbiota of Peromyscus leucopus, identifying Lactobacillus species and other microbes, and highlights differences from Mus musculus.

This study investigates the host associations and pathogen transmission potential of the invasive Haemaphysalis longicornis tick in New York City, finding it primarily feeds on medium and large mammals but does not acquire pathogens from these hosts.

This study shows that Asian longhorned ticks avoid white-footed mice, the main reservoir for tick-borne pathogens, and prefer other mammals like cats, dogs, and deer.