Chemoreception of ticks and spiders

I work on the molecular basis of chemoreception of ticks and spiders. Ticks and spiders possess distinct chemosensory systems compared to insects, although the molecular basis of chemoreception has been poorly investigated in these arachnids. By combining bioinformatic and experimental methods, we aim to identify the receptors responsible for recognizing volatiles in these species. Furthermore, we will make a comparison between ticks, spiders and insects to elucidate the evolution of chemoreceptors and understand the ecological significance of chemoreception in ticks and spiders.