Understanding how a tick-borne virus spreads and infects hosts
Official title: Intra-tick and intra-host infection dynamics of a tick-borne bunyavirus
Funded at University of South Alabama · NIH-10867529 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into how the SFTS virus spreads through ticks and affects people, with the goal of finding new ways to prevent this illness that’s becoming more common.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Alabama NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Mobile, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $524,351 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI171398-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10867529 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living in or traveling to areas where SFTS is prevalent, particularly in East Asia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not reside in or travel to regions affected by SFTS may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the dynamics of the SFTS virus, which is transmitted by the Haemaphysalis longicornis tick. It aims to understand how the virus replicates and survives in both ticks and vertebrate hosts, focusing on the infection process and transmission timeline. By studying these interactions, the research seeks to uncover critical information that could lead to new prevention strategies against this emerging disease. The findings could help address the rising incidence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in affected regions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of effective strategies to prevent the transmission of a dangerous tick-borne virus.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in understanding tick-borne diseases, but this specific investigation into SFTSV dynamics is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Alabama
Mobile, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hermance, Meghan Elizabeth — University of South Alabama
- Study coordinator: Hermance, Meghan Elizabeth
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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.