Why are some humans more attractive to tick bites than others?

We want to understand what triggers ticks to bite some humans and not others. It is known that ticks are attracted to CO₂ and heat, but how ticks choose where to bite is still a mystery.

Our novel hypothesis is that ticks are influenced by the skin microbiota and have preferences in feeding, depending on the bacteria present on the skin. Bacteria from the skin of individuals that are often tick bitten and of those that are rarely bitten, will be identified. We will develop a new tick maze to observe the movements and choices that ticks make for different skin bacteria. Tick´s preferences to specific skin bacteria are confirmed in an artificial membrane blood feeding system.

Finding the connection between the skin microbiota and the tick will help us understand tick biology and behavior, and selection of the host. In the long run, this research can help reduce tick bites on animals and humans by identifying skin bacteria that could be applied to skin.