The balance between tick mt oxidative stress in response to infection and the inhibition of ROS production by A. phagocytophilum using alternative pathways such as reduction in NADPH oxidase levels (Fig. 8D) and the selective manipulation of host proteins to reduce heme release and the antimicrobial oxidative response31 facilitates survival of both ticks and pathogens. The gene discussed is FMO5; the disease is infection.