Understanding how a tick-borne virus spreads inside ticks and into people
Official title: Intra-tick and intra-host infection dynamics of a tick-borne bunyavirus
Funded at University of South Alabama · NIH-11365842 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how SFTS virus travels and multiplies inside ticks and in the early moments of infection in people, aiming to prevent the virus from spreading.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $500,342 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI171398-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365842 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals who are at risk for ticks carrying SFTSV, including people in areas with tick exposure and regions where the tick is expanding.
✕Less likely to help
People not exposed to SFTS or living in regions without the tick vector may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the SFTS bunyavirus behaves inside the Haemaphysalis longicornis tick and in vertebrate hosts, with a focus on where the virus grows and how it moves to cause infection. By examining infection dynamics inside the tick and during the initial skin interactions after a bite, the study seeks to identify key steps that could be blocked to stop transmission. The work combines lab experiments with analyses that model the transmission timeline, aiming to reveal targets for future interventions. Since this is based in a university setting, it could inform future vaccines or therapies for people at risk of SFTS.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of transmission could lead to strategies to prevent infection in people who are bitten by ticks.
How similar studies have gone: Previous basic science work has advanced knowledge of bunyavirus replication, but this project addresses specific intra-tick and early host interactions that are less explored.
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.