Lyme disease, a debilitating bacterial infection transmitted through tick bites, has been a growing concern for health officials, with an estimated 476,000 Americans projected to be diagnosed this year alone. However, scientists are making significant strides in the battle against this disease. Two groundbreaking initiatives in Lyme disease prevention are showing encouraging results, bringing hope for an end to this debilitating illness.
Lyme disease is primarily caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and, less commonly, Borrelia mayonii. These bacteria are primarily spread through the bite of an infected black-legged tick, often referred to as the deer tick. In certain western states, the western black-legged tick is the main vector.
Johns Hopkins Medicine notes, it’s important to note that not all ticks transmit Lyme disease. The risk varies depending on the location, with the percentage of ticks carrying Lyme disease bacteria ranging from less than 1% to over half in certain areas.
The symptoms of Lyme disease can be severe, including fever, chills, headaches, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes. Given the impact of this disease, the need for an effective vaccine is paramount.
Memphis-based US Biologic aims to tackle the Lyme disease epidemic at its root by vaccinating mice via food pellets. This approach is based on the fact that ticks contract Lyme disease bacteria by biting infected white-footed mice. By vaccinating the mice, the cycle of transmission can be disrupted.
US Biologic’s strategy has shown promise in studies. One study, published in the Experimental and Applied Acarology journal in 2020, found that distributing oral vaccines in residential properties in Redding, Connecticut led to a significant decrease in infected mice, falling 24% in one year.
Another study conducted with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Dutchess County demonstrated a 74% decrease over a five-year period, according to data compiled by US Biologic.
Meanwhile, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and French biotech company Valneva have developed a vaccine candidate — VLA15 — that’s currently in Phase 3 human trials, according to the CDC.
Pfizer has reported in a news release that VLA15 “has demonstrated a strong immune response and satisfactory safety profile in pre-clinical and clinical studies so far.”
The fight against Lyme disease takes a surprising turn with recent findings from researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Helsinki. They discovered that human sweat contains a protein that inhibits the growth of the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.
One-third of the population carries a genetic variant of this protein, as reported in the journal Nature Communications. These findings open up potential new avenues for preventative measures and possibly therapeutics based on this protein.
Lyme disease cases have been rising for decades — from 3.74 reported cases per 100,000 people in 1991 to 7.21 reported cases per 100,000 people in 2018, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. These statistics underscore the importance of new and effective approaches to combating this disease.
