midgut transcriptome shotgun assembly from unfed Ixodes ricinus females

In Europe, ticks are the main vectors of human diseases and affect as well livestock, wildlife and pet animals. The most important European tick, Ixodes ricinus, transmits a wide range of pathogens, mostly bacteria, but also viruses and protozoa. 14 % of European I. ricinus ticks are infected with members of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex and Lyme Borreliosis is the most important vector-borne disease in Europe. Interactions between I. ricinus and Borrelia in the midgut are essential for successfull survival of the pathogen in the tick as well as its transmission to the host. Therefore, midgut proteins are important players in vector-pathogen interactions and potential targets for blocking feeding and pathogen transmission by vaccines. Since it is a main goal to inhibit pathogen transmission and feeding as early as possible, we hereby present a study about transcripts of the unfed (naive) I. ricinus midgut.