16s rRNA whole microbiome sequences in Ixodes scapularis

This study aimed to capitalize on the numerous already extracted ticks (Ixodes scapularis) from University of Connecticut's Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science diagnostic laboratory. The goal was to see if we can get biologically relevant data from this inter-department collaboration and determine if there is any relationship between known tick-borne pathogens and diversity of the tick microbiome.