Joao H. F. Pedra

The paper develops a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screening platform for Ixodes scapularis ticks and identifies genes associated with cellular fitness and drug resistance.

This study shows that tick extracellular vesicles alter keratinocyte function in the epidermis by inhibiting proliferation and wound closure, linked to phosphoinositide 3-kinase, KGF-1, and TGF-β.

This paper demonstrates genetic modification of a tick cell line using CRISPR-Cas9 and ectopic expression, showing increased infection by Anaplasma phagocytophilum after disrupting the IMD pathway.

This study identifies Rab27 as essential for tick extracellular vesicle biogenesis and its role in bacterial acquisition during feeding.