Research

OUR RESEARCH

Understanding how ticks sense, process, and respond to their environment.

How do ticks find their hosts? What sensory information do they rely on, and how does their nervous system transform this information into behavior?

At the Städele Laboratory, we investigate the sensory neurophysiology underlying host-seeking behavior and host preference in ticks. We are particularly interested in how different tick species perceive their environment and how differences in their sensory systems contribute to distinct behavioral strategies.

Our goal is to understand the neuronal mechanisms underlying these behaviors, from the detection of sensory stimuli to the decisions and actions of the animal.

OUR APPROACH

From Molecules to Behavior

Understanding tick behavior requires more than identifying the stimuli that trigger a response. It requires understanding the animal as a whole.

We take an integrative approach that connects different levels of biological organization, from molecular interactions and sensory receptor function to neuronal activity, information processing, and ultimately behavior.

By combining molecular, anatomical, physiological, and behavioral investigations, we aim to bridge the gaps between sensory detection and behavioral responses.

Importantly, we do not view ticks as a uniform group. Different species have evolved distinct sensory adaptations and host-seeking strategies. By investigating and comparing multiple tick species, we aim to identify both shared principles and species-specific mechanisms of sensory processing.

Our research therefore connects molecular and cellular mechanisms with the sensory experiences and behavioral strategies of the entire animal.

OUR RESEARCH PROJECTS

Mapping the Tick Nervous System

Lisa | Tick Synganglion Atlas

The tick central nervous system is remarkably compact, yet its anatomical organization and functional architecture remain poorly understood.

This project aims to characterize the organization of the tick synganglion and establish a detailed neuroanatomical atlas. By mapping neuronal structures and their spatial relationships, we seek to provide an anatomical foundation for understanding sensory pathways and neural information processing in ticks.

Exploring the Sensory World of Tick Mouthparts

Bele | Sensory Structures of the Mouthparts

Tick mouthparts are essential for interacting with their hosts, yet their potential sensory roles remain incompletely understood.

This project investigates the sensory anatomy and organization of tick mouthparts, exploring how their specialized structures may contribute to environmental and host-associated sensing.

Understanding Haller's Organ

Gülinay | Sensory Anatomy and Function

Haller's organ, located on the first pair of legs, is a key sensory structure involved in environmental perception and host detection.

This project explores the structural and functional organization of Haller's organ, aiming to better understand how its sensory components contribute to the detection of environmental and host-associated cues.

Understanding Host-Seeking Behavior

Comparative Behavioral Neurobiology

Different tick species use different strategies to locate and select hosts. But how do these behavioral differences arise, and which sensory mechanisms shape them?

We investigate how ticks respond to individual and combined sensory cues, how these responses depend on environmental and physiological conditions, and how host-seeking strategies differ among species.

By comparing behavior across species and experimental conditions, we aim to understand how sensory information guides host-seeking decisions and how ticks actively interact with their surroundings.

OUR METHODS

Combining complementary approaches across biological scales.

To investigate tick sensory neurobiology, we combine a broad range of experimental techniques that allow us to study sensory systems from molecular and anatomical organization to neuronal function and animal behavior.

Behavioral Assays – Investigating host-seeking strategies, sensory preferences, and responses to environmental and host-associated cues.
Neuroanatomy & Microscopy – Visualizing sensory structures, neuronal organization, and anatomical pathways within the tick nervous system.
Electrophysiology – Investigating the electrical activity of sensory neurons and neural circuits to understand how information is encoded and processed.
Molecular Biology & Proteomics – Exploring the molecular components of sensory systems and identifying candidate proteins involved in sensory detection and signaling.

Together, these approaches allow us to connect structure, function, and behavior, working toward a more comprehensive understanding of how ticks perceive and navigate their world.

Our Collaboratos

How do ticks find their host?

Vector Function of Ticks

Ticks are important vectors of pathogens affecting both humans and animals worldwide. Species such as Ixodes ricinus transmit a range of disease-causing agents, including those responsible for Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis. Despite their medical relevance, the biological mechanisms that enable ticks to detect and locate their hosts remain poorly understood.

Our research focuses on the sensory neurobiology of ticks. We aim to understand how ticks perceive their environment, detect host-derived cues, and translate sensory information into host-seeking behavior. Because ticks depend on blood meals throughout their life cycle, the ability to locate suitable hosts is essential for their survival and reproduction.

Understanding how ticks sense and interpret host signals provides fundamental insights into vector biology and host–parasite interactions.

Sensory Biology of Ticks

Ticks rely on specialized sensory systems to detect hosts. One of the most important sensory structures is the Haller’s organ, located on the first pair of legs. This organ allows ticks to detect a variety of host-derived signals, including chemical cues, carbon dioxide, humidity, and temperature.

Despite its central role in host detection, the sensory mechanisms and neural processing underlying these responses remain poorly understood. Our research investigates how these sensory systems function and how they contribute to the behavioral strategies ticks use to locate hosts.

Research
Questions

Our work addresses several fundamental questions in tick sensory biology:

How is the tick’s brain built?
How are sensory signals processed within the tick nervous system?
How do ticks locate and select hosts in complex natural environments?
Which chemical and physical cues trigger host-seeking behavior
Which sensory organs detect these environmental signals?
How do they decide for a biting-site on the host's skin?
Which multisensory cues trigger feeding behavior?

By answering these questions, we aim to unravel the neural and sensory mechanisms that underlie host detection in ticks.

Our Approach

To study host detection in ticks, we combine approaches from neurobiology, behavior, and physiology.

Our research integrates:

Behavioral assays to investigate host-seeking strategies
Neuroanatomical analyses to characterize sensory organs and neural circuits
Electrophysiological approaches to measure sensory responses
Molecular methods to explore the mechanisms underlying sensory perception

By linking sensory physiology with behavior, we aim to understand how ticks detect environmental signals and transform them into adaptive behavioral responses.

Methods

Behavior analysis as a method is crucial in neuroethology to combine the underlying neural mechanisms with the behavior of ticks. Like this we are able to understand which stimuli the tick uses as cues and which stimuli are just activators for certain behaviors. Further, we are also able to detect differences in behavior across tick stages and species.

Behavioral Approach

Collaborative Research

The Städele Lab is part of an interdisciplinary research environment and collaborates with scientists in neurobiology, vector biology, sensory ecology, and molecular biology. These collaborations allow us to combine expertise across disciplines and apply complementary approaches to study the sensory biology of ticks.

Through these partnerships, we aim to advance our understanding of how disease vectors interact with their hosts and contribute to the broader field of vector-borne disease research.

Dr. Wiebke Möbius

MPI City Campus, Göttingen

Dr. Tobias Boothe

MPI Faßberg Campus, Göttingen

Prof. Dr. Timo Beetz

Third Institute of Biophysics, Göttingen

Mǐso Mitkovski