# REPRODUCTION IN TICKS AND MITES

> **NIH NIH R01** · GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $83,601

## Abstract

The long-term objective of this research is to learn more about
reproductive mechanisms and their evolution in acarines (mites and ticks)
and other ectoparasites and/or disease vectors.  Special attention is
directed to ectoparasites and disease vectors of public health importance
which exhibit different parasitic habits and reproductive strategies.
Major research efforts focus on the human-biting ixodid 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), the argasid tick Ornithodoros
parkeri, and the chicken mite, Dermanyssus gallinae.  Specific objectives
are to:  (1) describe, map and study the activity cycles of the
neurosecretory cells (NSC) at various nutritional and reproductive stages
of the acarines and to experimentally alter the NSC cycles by organ
transplants, injections of insect hormones, etc. in vivo and in vitro; (2)
study effects of hormones on development and reproduction in vivo and in
vitro; (3) investigate the processes and stimuli causing spermatogenesis,
spermiogenesis, sperm transfer and relocation; (4) investigate factors
responsible for egg maturation and oviposition; (5) determine whether D.
gallinae reproduces by haplodiploidy or parahaploidy.  Descriptive and
experimental approaches will be employed using in vivo and in vitro
systems.  Techniques will involve organ cultures, autoradiography,
radioimmunoassay (RIA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), histochemically
treated tissue sections, gamma radiation, organ transplantations and
injections, and chromosomal analyses.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3124576
- **Project number:** 5R01AI009556-18
- **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:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $83,601
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1978-04-01 → 1988-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3124576

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3124576, REPRODUCTION IN TICKS AND MITES (5R01AI009556-18). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3124576. Licensed CC0.

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