Ticks' immune system: how they fight off Lyme pathogens
Official title: Dissecting the antimicrobial network orchestrated by the noncanonical IMD pathway in ticks
Funded at Washington State University · NIH-11356554 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant funds research on how ticks’ immune signals help them resist Lyme disease bacteria, with the goal of understanding how to block transmission.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pullman, United States) |
| Project start | May 22, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $229,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI199294-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11356554 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient participation; this is a basic science study in ticks.
✕Less likely to help
No direct participation or benefit for patients in this basic science project.
What this research studies
Researchers at Washington State University will study the noncanonical IMD immune pathway in ticks to uncover which genes Relish activates and how these genes help kill or trap Borrelia burgdorferi. Using genome analysis and molecular biology methods, they will map the tick-specific immune network and test how altering Relish targets changes the bacteria’s ability to survive in ticks. The work aims to fill a critical gap in our understanding of tick immunity and vector competency, which could inform new strategies to prevent Lyme disease transmission. Results could point to novel interventions that reduce the spread of Lyme disease from ticks to people. The study is progressing in a controlled laboratory setting with vector- biology focused experiments over the grant period from 2026 to 2028.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new ways to reduce Lyme disease transmission by targeting tick immune pathways.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has identified a tick-specific IMD network and candidate genes, with promising implications for blocking pathogen transmission.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington State University
Pullman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shaw, Dana Kathleen — Washington State University
- Study coordinator: Shaw, Dana Kathleen
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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.