Understanding how Lyme disease bacteria survive in mice
Official title: Identifying Determinants of Borrelia burgdorferi and Peromyscus leucopus symbiosis
Funded at Tufts University Boston · NIH-10909049 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the Lyme disease bacteria live in white-footed mice without making them sick, which could help us find new ways to stop Lyme disease from spreading to people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Boston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $74,284 |
| NIH project number | 5F32AI179104-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10909049 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research are individuals living in areas where Lyme disease is prevalent, particularly those who may be at risk of exposure.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already diagnosed with Lyme disease and are receiving treatment may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, and its natural host, the Peromyscus leucopus mouse. The study aims to uncover why these mice can carry the bacteria without showing symptoms and how the bacteria thrive within them. By using experimental methods to track infection dynamics and inflammation in these mice, the research seeks to identify potential targets for disrupting the cycle of Lyme disease transmission. This could lead to new strategies for preventing Lyme disease in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new methods for preventing Lyme disease, reducing the number of people who become infected.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in understanding host-pathogen interactions, making this approach promising for future breakthroughs in Lyme disease prevention.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Boston
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bourgeois, Jeffrey — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Bourgeois, Jeffrey
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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.