Research in the Allen Laboratory focuses on the microbiology of vector-borne diseases and microbiome-host studies of human, plant, and animal systems. The former includes testing of all ticks submitted to the state of Texas for the presence of specific bacterial pathogens in cooperation with the Texas Department of State Health Services; research into factors influencing disease transmission from ticks and other arthropods; and mechanisms of immune avoidance by tick-borne pathogens. The microbiome research includes investigation of complex bacterial communities and their interactions with a wide variety of hosts; defining factors that disrupt or support microbial community assembly and structure; exploring community dynamics in polymicrobial diseases of different organ systems (e.g. gut, lung); development of genetically engineered probiotics for the treatment of disease; and applications of microbiome research to problems in forensic science.