mRNA vaccine targeting tick proteins induces tick resistance in guinea pigs

12 hours ago

IscREAM is a powerful tool for mapping immune responses to many tick proteins simultaneously.
52 patient sera were tested; 33 recognized an average of 8 antigens each, totaling 177 antigens.
Serum from a reportedly resistant human transferred to guinea pigs confirmed tick resistance.
Guinea pigs vaccinated with an mRNA vaccine encoding 25 tick cement antigens showed resistance.
Immune responses in Lyme disease patients varied, requiring more work to identify biomarkers.
An anti-tick vaccine based on cement targets is promising, with potential availability in 5-10 years.
Research was supported by NIH and other foundations, with disclaimers on official views.

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