Defining how a Bb protein helps Lyme disease bacteria evade the immune system
Official title: Define the mechanisms targeting a B. burgdorferi protein CspZ to prevent Lyme disease infection
Funded at Tufts University Boston · NIH-11362086 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how a protein from the Lyme disease bacteria helps it hide from the immune system, with the goal of preventing infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Boston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 7, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $862,348 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI184476-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362086 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals at risk for Lyme disease or those who have had early exposure to Bb, as well as future participants in preventive or vaccine trials related to Bb.
✕Less likely to help
People not exposed to Bb or those not eligible for preventive strategies may not directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Lyme disease is a common illness transmitted by ticks, and this project focuses on a specific bacterial protein called CspZ that helps B. burgdorferi evade immune defenses. By exploring how CspZ interacts with components of the complement system, the study aims to reveal mechanisms that allow the bacteria to survive and spread. The work involves molecular and immunological experiments to pinpoint binding sites and interactions that protect Bb from attack, with the ultimate aim of guiding preventive strategies. The research is conducted at Tufts University Boston under the leadership of Yi-Pin Lin and is positioned to inform future development of vaccines or other preventives for Lyme disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies to prevent Lyme disease by blocking the bacteria’s defenses and enhancing immune clearance.
How similar studies have gone: Some prior work has shown that targeting bacterial immune evasion proteins can improve prevention strategies, but the specific CspZ mechanism is still being clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Boston
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lin, Yi-Pin — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Lin, Yi-Pin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding why some people have ongoing symptoms after Lyme disease
A long-term study follows people diagnosed with acute Lyme disease to see who develops persistent symptoms and why, with care from a team of Lyme experts.
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CSF Protein Map in Post-Treatment Lyme Disease
A short study to map proteins in spinal fluid of people who had Lyme disease and still feel sick after standard treatment, to understand what’s going on.
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Lyme disease vaccine research aimed at preventing infection
Researchers are developing a Lyme disease vaccine by studying how the immune system responds to Borrelia burgdorferi and testing vaccine approaches to prevent illness.
-
Lyme disease brain health: tracking brain signals and blood clues after treatment
This study follows people with early Lyme disease and compares them to healthy volunteers to see how the brain and blood markers change over a year after starting antibiotics.
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Lyme disease symptoms lingering after treatment may be driven by special bacterial fragments
A human-friendly look at a study exploring why some Lyme patients keep symptoms after antibiotics and whether tiny fragments from the bacteria are to blame.
-
Understanding Lyme disease immune signals to predict recovery after antibiotics
A research project at MIT aims to find immune biomarkers that tell which Lyme patients will recover after standard antibiotics and who might have lasting symptoms.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.