How wild birds help Lyme bacteria survive
Immunomodulatory mechanisms of wild bird reservoir hosts that facilitate persistence of Lyme disease bacteria
This project learns how wild birds' immune systems allow Lyme disease bacteria to persist and spread, which could help people at risk from tick bites.
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 ID | NIH-11311270 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers will sample wild birds and ticks and use lab models to see why some Borrelia burgdorferi strains survive better in birds than in mice. They will compare bacterial genotypes, measure antibody and complement responses, and run controlled infection experiments in bird and rodent models. Field data on which strains birds carry will be combined with lab immunology to pinpoint mechanisms of persistence. The team aims to explain bird-specific transmission patterns that influence human Lyme risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This grant does not enroll people; it focuses on wild birds and animal models rather than recruiting patients.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatments for an active Lyme infection are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic ecology and immunology research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could inform new prevention strategies that reduce the likelihood of people getting Lyme disease from bird-associated ticks.
How similar studies have performed: Prior field and laboratory studies have shown bird-specific Borrelia genotypes and transmission patterns, but using those findings to prevent human infection is still early-stage.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Tufts University Boston — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lin, Yi-Pin — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Lin, Yi-Pin
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.