Project Research Areas

Project Structure

Our Systems Approach will fill key knowledge gaps and advance the evidence base for environmental mitigation of tick-borne diseases (TBDs), through five interlinked work packages (WP):

WP1: Determine impacts of landscape structure on host density, habitat selection and behaviour of hosts and consequent impacts on ticks, Lyme Disease pathogens (Bbsl) and hazard.

WP2: Quantify the role of climate, habitat and ecological connectivity in restricting UK tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) foci.

WP3: Modelling impacts of ecological connectivity on risk and spread of Lyme Disease pathogens.

WP4: Modelling drivers of arrival and emergence of TBEV and Hyalomma spp. Ticks.

WP5: Co-develop environmental solutions to mitigate TBD risks with cross-sectoral stakeholders.

Conceptual Map of TickSolve Project Structure

Systems approach to develop environmental solutions to TBDs (tick-borne diseases)

(Figure adapted From J Med Entomol, tjaa209, https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjaa209)

Work Packages

WP 1 - Empirical Field Data

Determine impacts of landscape structure on host density, habitat selection and behaviour of hosts and consequent impacts on ticks, Lyme Disease pathogens (Bbsl) and hazard.

Study site adjacent to Muir of Dinnet Nature reserve

WP 2 - Empirical Field Data

Quantify role of climate, landscape and host connectivity in restricting TBEV foci in UK landscapes, through tick sampling, deer sero-surveillance and pathogen genomics

WP 3 - Agent based model

Modelling impacts of ecological connectivity, including human and host behaviour, on risk and spread of Lyme Disease at the landscape scale

WP 4 - Agent based model

Modelling impacts of current and future changes in landscape connectivity and climate on arrival and emergence of TBEV and Hyalomma ticks.

WP 5 - Co-developoment of Solutions

Co-develop environmental solutions to mitigate TBD risks with cross-sectoral stakeholders