mRNA vaccines for tick-borne Thogotoviruses
mRNA-Based Vaccines Against Tick Borne Thogotoviruses
New mRNA vaccines are being developed to protect people from emerging tick-borne viruses such as Bourbon virus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11293443 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I'm worried about tick-borne illnesses, researchers are designing mRNA vaccines that could teach my immune system to recognize these viruses. They will test different viral proteins and combinations in the lab and give candidate vaccines to mice to see if the animals are protected. The team will study how the immune response works and whether one vaccine can protect against related thogotoviruses to guide broader protection. Successful lab results would support moving toward human vaccine studies in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal future trial candidates would be people at higher risk of tick exposure, such as residents of endemic areas, outdoor workers, and those with frequent outdoor recreation.
Not a fit: People who never face tick exposure or who cannot receive vaccinations for medical reasons would likely not benefit directly from this specific vaccine development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to vaccines that prevent serious illness from Bourbon virus and related tick-borne thogotoviruses.
How similar studies have performed: mRNA vaccines have been highly successful for other viruses like SARS-CoV-2, but applying mRNA technology to Bourbon virus and pan-thogotovirus protection is novel and largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boon, Adrianus Cm — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Boon, Adrianus Cm
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.