How Ticks Carry and Spread Disease-Causing Germs
Tick-Pathogen Interactions: Exploring the Intersection between Stress Responses and Immunity
This work helps us understand how ticks' natural defenses interact with germs that cause illnesses like Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pullman, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11103278 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project aims to uncover the secrets of how ticks' bodies handle bacteria that cause diseases in humans. We know a lot about insect immunity, but much less about ticks, which are different. Researchers are looking into a specific defense system in ticks, called the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), to see how it affects their ability to carry and pass on bacteria like those causing Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. By learning more about these processes, we hope to find new ways to prevent tick-borne illnesses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patients, but future studies stemming from this work could benefit individuals at risk for or suffering from tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.
Not a fit: Patients not affected by tick-borne diseases would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies for preventing tick-borne diseases by disrupting how ticks transmit pathogens to humans.
How similar studies have performed: While insect immunity is well-studied, tick immunity is less understood, making this approach to understanding tick-pathogen interactions relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Pullman, United States
- Washington State University — Pullman, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shaw, Dana Kathleen — Washington State University
- Study coordinator: Shaw, Dana Kathleen
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 below.