Transforming ticks to understand disease transmission
Official title: Germline Transformation of Ticks
Funded at University of Nevada Reno · NIH-11062372 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at ways to change ticks at a genetic level to learn more about how they live and spread diseases like Lyme disease, which could help find better ways to control ticks and protect people and animals from these illnesses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nevada Reno NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Reno, United States) |
| Project start | May 11, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $652,336 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI172943-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11062372 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit include individuals at risk of Lyme disease and livestock farmers affected by tick infestations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for tick-borne diseases or do not have livestock may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on genetically transforming ticks to better understand their biology and the diseases they transmit, such as Lyme disease. By utilizing advanced gene-editing techniques like CRISPR/Cas9, the researchers aim to develop new methods for controlling tick populations and the pathogens they carry. The project involves overcoming technical challenges related to tick embryology to enable effective gene editing. Patients and livestock affected by tick-borne diseases could benefit from the insights gained through this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for controlling tick populations and reducing the incidence of tick-borne diseases.
How similar studies have gone: While gene-editing approaches in ticks are relatively novel, similar techniques have shown promise in other arthropod vectors, indicating potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nevada Reno
Reno, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gulia-Nuss, Monika — University of Nevada Reno
- Study coordinator: Gulia-Nuss, Monika
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How PrEP Drugs Affect HIV Risk in Women and Reproductive Health
This project looks at how PrEP medicines work for women, and whether they influence pregnancy-related processes in the uterus.
-
TrkB’s role in SCI-related bladder cell death and overactivity
Researchers are studying how a brain-derived nerve receptor (TrkB) on specific bladder cells may die after spinal cord injury, contributing to urge to urinate problems, to find ways to prevent it.
-
Gut-resident macrophages and gastric function in gastroparesis
A study in people with gastroparesis to understand how gut macrophages affect stomach movement and gut barrier health, with the hope of finding new ways to treat the condition.
-
Molecular details of AKAP signaling and how it directs cell behavior
A clinician-friendly look at how AKAP proteins organize cell signaling to influence disease-related cell functions and how new targeted approaches might control these signals.
-
Role of purinergic signaling in diabetic bladder dysfunction
A study in mouse models of type 2 diabetes will explore how purinergic signaling in the bladder lining may contribute to bladder dysfunction.
-
Fixing cholesterol transport to restore nerve insulation in inherited peripheral neuropathies
This project aims to boost the ABCA1 cholesterol transporter to help restore myelin (the insulating layer around nerves) in people with inherited peripheral demyelinating neuropathies.
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.