show Abstracthide AbstractThis project is focused on improving our understanding of vector borne diseases caused by bacteria in the order Rickettsiales by obtaining further diverse genomes from the Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Orientia, Rickettsia, and Neoehrlichia genera. The analysis is expected to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of host tropism, immune response, and pathogenicity/virulence as reflected in the isolates selected for sequencing.