Investigating how tick proteins affect blood feeding and immune response
Official title: PLURIPOTENCY OF NOVEL TICK CYSTEINE PROTEASE INHIBITORS DURING HEMATOPHAGY
Funded at University of Southern Mississippi · NIH-10515240 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how proteins in tick saliva help ticks feed on animals by changing how the animal's immune system works, and it's aimed at finding ways to boost the immune response to better protect against ticks and the diseases they can spread.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern Mississippi NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hattiesburg, United States) |
| Project start | July 20, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $444,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R15AI167013-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10515240 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are frequently exposed to ticks, such as outdoor workers, hikers, or those living in endemic areas.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have exposure to ticks or live in areas where tick-borne diseases are not prevalent may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how certain proteins in tick saliva help ticks feed on their hosts by manipulating the host's immune system. The study will explore three specific proteins from the Amblyomma maculatum tick and how they interact with the host's immune response during blood feeding. By using advanced techniques like RNA interference, researchers aim to uncover the role of these proteins in tick feeding and the transmission of diseases. The ultimate goal is to develop strategies that could enhance the host's immune response against these tick proteins.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new methods for preventing tick-borne diseases by enhancing the immune response in humans and animals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding tick-host interactions, but this specific approach using novel cysteine protease inhibitors is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Morgan, Sarah E — University of Southern Mississippi
- Study coordinator: Morgan, Sarah E
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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.