# REPRODUCTION IN TICKS AND MITES

> **NIH NIH R01** · GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY · 1989 · $129,847

## Abstract

The long-term objective of this research is to understand more
about productive mechanisms and their evolution in acarines (mites
and ticks) and other ectoparasites vectors of public health
importance which exhibit different parasitic habits and ticks
Dermacentor variabilis, Amblyomma americanum, and Ixodes scapularis
(all vectors of several pathogens to man and other animals; D.
variabilis is the major vector of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever; A.
americanum has been reported to transmit laboratory vector of Lyme
disease although its role in nature is unknown), Amblyomma
rotundatum which is parthenogenetic, the argasid ornithodoros
parkeri (vector of Borrelia parkeri) and the chicken mite
Dermanyssus gallinae.  Specific objectives are nutritional and
reproductive stages, and attempt experimental alterations of the
NSC by tissue transplants, injections, and topical applications of
exogenous insect hormones and selected pharmacologically active
compounds known to be present in experiments via in vitro
synganglia preparations; (2) partition and define the role of
feeding in spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis; (3) determine the
stimuli for egg production which is initiated by mating (except in
A. rotundatum and other parthenogenetic species).  These
experiments involve spermatid proteins, catecholamines,
prostaglandins from males and Egg Development Stimulation Factor
(EDSF), juvenile hormone-like factor (JH-F) and ecdysteroids; (4)
identify the descriptive and experimental approaches to elucidate
critical gaps in knowledge of reproductive biology of medically
important disease vectors and parasites.  Acarine reproduction,
especially its hormonal regulation, is poorly understood.
Techniques will include organ cultures, autoradiography, RCA, RIA,
TLC, HPLC, GC/M Galleria bioassay, labeling and scintillation
counting, SEM, histochemical and immunofluorescent tissue sections,
organ transplants, chromosomal analyses, PAGE and immunoblotting.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3124571
- **Project number:** 2R01AI009556-19A1
- **Recipient organization:** GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** FL4AUYLFP7E8
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES H OLIVER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $129,847
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1978-04-01 → 1993-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3124571

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3124571, REPRODUCTION IN TICKS AND MITES (2R01AI009556-19A1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3124571. Licensed CC0.

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