@article{deguenon_travanty_zhu_carr_denning_reiskind_watson_roe_ponnusamy_2019, title={Exogenous and endogenous microbiomes of wild-caught Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) flies from a suburban farm by 16S rRNA gene sequencing}, volume={9}, ISSN={["2045-2322"]}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56733-z}, DOI={10.1038/s41598-019-56733-z}, abstractNote={Abstract}, journal={SCIENTIFIC REPORTS}, author={Deguenon, Jean M. and Travanty, Nicholas and Zhu, Jiwei and Carr, Ann and Denning, Steven and Reiskind, Michael H. and Watson, David W. and Roe, R. Michael and Ponnusamy, Loganathan}, year={2019}, month={Dec} }
 @article{mitchell_zhu_carr_dhammi_cave_sonenshine_roe_2017, title={Infrared light detection by the hailer's organ of adult american dog ticks, Dermacentor variabilis (Ixodida: Ixodidae)}, volume={8}, ISSN={["1877-9603"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.06.001}, abstractNote={The Haller's organ (HO), unique to ticks and mites, is found only on the first tarsus of the front pair of legs. The organ has an unusual morphology consisting of an anterior pit (AP) with protruding sensilla and a posterior capsule (Cp). The current thinking is that the HO's main function is chemosensation analogous to the insect antennae, but the functionality of its atypical structure (exclusive to the Acari) is unexplained. We provide the first evidence that the HO allows the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, to respond to infrared (IR) light. Unfed D. variabilis adults with their HOs present were positively phototactic to IR. However, when the HOs were removed, no IR response was detected. Ticks in these experiments were also attracted to white light with and without the HOs, but were only positively phototactic to white light when the ocelli (primitive eyes) were unobstructed. Covering the eyes did not prevent IR attraction. A putative TRPA1 receptor was characterized from a D. variabilis-specific HO transcriptome we constructed. This receptor was homologous to transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily A, member 1 (TRPA1) from the pit organ of the pit viper, python, and boa families of snakes, the only receptor identified so far for IR detection. HO scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies in the American dog tick showed the AP and Cp but also novel structures not previously described; the potential role of these structures in IR detection is discussed. The ability of ticks to use IR for host finding is consistent with their obligatory hematophagy and has practical applications in tick trapping and the development of new repellents.}, number={5}, journal={TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES}, author={Mitchell, Robert D., III and Zhu, Jiwei and Carr, Ann L. and Dhammi, Anirudh and Cave, Grayson and Sonenshine, Daniel E. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2017}, pages={764–771} }
 @article{carr_mitchell_dhammi_bissinger_sonenshine_roe_2017, title={Tick Haller's Organ, a New Paradigm for Arthropod Olfaction: How Ticks Differ from Insects}, volume={18}, ISSN={["1422-0067"]}, DOI={10.3390/ijms18071563}, abstractNote={Ticks are the vector of many human and animal diseases; and host detection is critical to this process. Ticks have a unique sensory structure located exclusively on the 1st pairs of legs; the fore-tarsal Haller’s organ, not found in any other animals, presumed to function like the insect antennae in chemosensation but morphologically very different. The mechanism of tick chemoreception is unknown. Utilizing next-generation sequencing and comparative transcriptomics between the 1st and 4th legs (the latter without the Haller’s organ), we characterized 1st leg specific and putative Haller’s organ specific transcripts from adult American dog ticks, Dermacentor variabilis. The analysis suggested that the Haller’s organ is involved in olfaction, not gustation. No known odorant binding proteins like those found in insects, chemosensory lipocalins or typical insect olfactory mechanisms were identified; with the transcriptomic data only supporting a possible olfactory G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signal cascade unique to the Haller’s organ. Each component of the olfactory GPCR signal cascade was identified and characterized. The expression of GPCR, Gαo and β-arrestin transcripts identified exclusively in the 1st leg transcriptome, and putatively Haller’s organ specific, were examined in unfed and blood-fed adult female and male D. variabilis. Blood feeding to repletion in adult females down-regulated the expression of all three chemosensory transcripts in females but not in males; consistent with differences in post-feeding tick behavior between sexes and an expected reduced chemosensory function in females as they leave the host. Data are presented for the first time of the potential hormonal regulation of tick chemosensation; behavioral assays confirmed the role of the Haller’s organ in N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) repellency but showed no role for the Haller’s organ in host attachment. Further research is needed to understand the potential role of the GPCR cascade in olfaction.}, number={7}, journal={INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES}, author={Carr, Ann L. and Mitchell, Robert D., III and Dhammi, Anirudh and Bissinger, Brooke W. and Sonenshine, Daniel E. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2017}, month={Jul} }
 @article{carr_roe_2016, title={Acarine attractants: Chemoreception, bioassay, chemistry and control}, volume={131}, ISSN={["1095-9939"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.pestbp.2015.12.009}, abstractNote={The Acari are of significant economic importance in crop production and human and animal health. Acaricides are essential for the control of these pests, but at the same time, the number of available pesticides is limited, especially for applications in animal production. The Acari consist of two major groups, the mites that demonstrate a wide variety of life strategies, i.e., herbivory, predation and ectoparasitism, and ticks which have evolved obligatory hematophagy. The major sites of chemoreception in the acarines are the chelicerae, palps and tarsi on the forelegs. A unifying name, the “foretarsal sensory organ” (FSO), is proposed for the first time in this review for the sensory site on the forelegs of all acarines. The FSO has multiple sensory functions including olfaction, gustation, and heat detection. Preliminary transcriptomic data in ticks suggest that chemoreception in the FSO is achieved by a different mechanism from insects. There are a variety of laboratory and field bioassay methods that have been developed for the identification and characterization of attractants but minimal techniques for electrophysiology studies. Over the past three to four decades, significant progress has been made in the chemistry and analysis of function for acarine attractants in mites and ticks. In mites, attractants include aggregation, immature female, female sex and alarm pheromones; in ticks, the attraction–aggregation–attachment, assembly and sex pheromones; in mites and ticks host kairomones and plant allomones; and in mites, fungal allomones. There are still large gaps in our knowledge of chemical communication in the acarines compared to insects, especially relative to acarine pheromones, and more so for mites than ticks. However, the use of lure-and-kill and lure-enhanced biocontrol strategies has been investigated for tick and mite control, respectively, with significant environmental advantages which warrant further study.}, journal={PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY}, author={Carr, Ann L. and Roe, Michael}, year={2016}, month={Jul}, pages={60–79} }
 @article{carr_sonenshine_strider_roe_2016, title={Evidence of female sex pheromones and characterization of the cuticular lipids of unfed, adult male versus female blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis}, volume={68}, ISSN={["1572-9702"]}, DOI={10.1007/s10493-015-0009-y}, abstractNote={Copulation in Ixodes scapularis involves physical contact between the male and female (on or off the host), male mounting of the female, insertion/maintenance of the male chelicerae in the female genital pore (initiates spermatophore production), and the transfer of the spermatophore by the male into the female genital pore. Bioassays determined that male mounting behavior/chelicerae insertion required direct contact with the female likely requiring non-volatile chemical cues with no evidence of a female volatile sex pheromone to attract males. Unfed virgin adult females and replete mated adult females elicited the highest rates of male chelicerae insertion with part fed virgin adult females exhibiting a much lower response. Whole body surface hexane extracts of unfed virgin adult females and males, separately analyzed by GC–MS, identified a number of novel tick surface associated compounds: fatty alcohols (1-hexadecanol and 1-heptanol), a fatty amide (erucylamid), aromatic hydrocarbons, a short chain alkene (1-heptene), and a carboxylic acid ester (5β-androstane). These compounds are discussed in terms of their potential role in female–male communication. The two most abundant fatty acid esters found were butyl palmitate and butyl stearate present in ratios that were sex specific. Only 6 n-saturated hydrocarbons were identified in I. scapularis ranging from 10 to 18 carbons.}, number={4}, journal={EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY}, author={Carr, Ann L. and Sonenshine, Daniel E. and Strider, John B., Jr. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2016}, month={Apr}, pages={519–538} }
 @article{carr_roe_arellano_sonenshine_schal_apperson_2013, title={Responses of Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilisto odorants that attract haematophagous insects}, volume={27}, ISSN={0269-283X}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2915.2012.01024.x}, DOI={10.1111/j.1365-2915.2012.01024.x}, abstractNote={Carbon dioxide (CO2), 1‐octen‐3‐ol, acetone, ammonium hydroxide, L‐lactic‐acid, dimethyl trisulphide and isobutyric acid were tested as attractants for two tick species, Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae), in dose–response bioassays using Y‐tube olfactometers. Only CO2, acetone, 1‐octen‐3‐ol and ammonium hydroxide elicited significant preferences from adult A. americanum, and only CO2 was attractive to adult D. variabilis. Acetone, 1‐octen‐3‐ol and ammonium hydroxide were separately evaluated at three doses against CO2 (from dry ice) at a field site supporting a natural population of A. americanum nymphs and adults. Carbon dioxide consistently attracted the highest number of host‐seeking ticks. However, for the first time, acetone, 1‐octen‐3‐ol and ammonium hydroxide were shown to attract high numbers of A. americanum. Further research is needed to determine the utility of these semiochemicals as attractants in tick surveillance and area‐wide management programmes.}, number={1}, journal={Medical and Veterinary Entomology}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Carr, A. L. and Roe, R. M. and Arellano, C. and Sonenshine, D. E. and Schal, C. and Apperson, C. S.}, year={2013}, month={Mar}, pages={86–95} }