This volume contains the Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Ticks and Tick-borne Pathogens (TTP-4), held in Banff, Alberta, Canada, from 21 to 26 July 2002. TTP-4 continues an important tradition established in 1992 at the first Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, and developed subsequently at the Kruger National Park, South Africa (1995) and the High Tatra Mountains, Slovakia (1999). The 31 papers published in this special issue are divided between six sessions, with a keynote address as an introduction. The first session, which deals with biosystematics, genomics and proteomics of ticks, contains the most recent world list of valid tick names. The papers deal with a broad range of tick-host-pathogen interactions, including remote sensing and mapping of ticks and tick-borne pathogens as well as practical aspects of tick control. It is recommended reading for anyone working on ticks and tick-borne pathogens, which are of increasing medical and veterinary importance worldwide.
Part 1 Biosystems, Genomics and Proteomics of Ticks: The Argasidae, Ixodidae and Nuttalliellidae (Acari - Ixododa) - A world list of valid tick names, I.G. Horak, et al; Phylogeny, evolution and historical zoogeography of ticks - a review of recent progress, S.C. Barker, A. Murrel; The use of the nuclear protein-coding gene, RNA Polymerase II, for tick molecular systematics, Q. Fang, et al; A proteomics approach to characterizing salivary secretions, R.D. Madden, et al; RNA interference - applicability in tick research, M.N. Aljamali, et al; An inhibitor of thrombin-stimulated blood platelet aggregation from the salivary glands of the hard tick Amblyomma variegatum (Acari - Ixodidae), M. Kazimirova, et al; A preliminary linkage map of the tick, Ixodes scapularis, A.J. Ullmann, et al. Part 2 Tick-Pathogen Interface: Expression of defensin-like peptides in tick hemolymph and midgut in reponse to challenge with Borrelia burgdorferi, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, D.E. Sonenshine, et al; Involvement of antibacterial peptide defensin in tick midgut defense, Y. Nakajima, et al; Dynamic changes in Lyme disease spirochetes during transmission by nymphal ticks, J. Piesman, B.S. Schneider. Part 3 Tick-Host Interface: Preliminary observations on specific adaptations of exophilic ixodid ticks to forests or open country habitats, I Uspensky; How specific are host-produced kairomones to host-seeking ixodid ticks? J.F. Carroll. (Part contents).