An experimental mRNA vaccine provides protection in preclinical animal models against infection with Borrelia burgdorferithe bacteria that causes Lyme disease, according to new research carried out in the United States.
The bacteria that causes Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks, which can cause fever, headache, fatigue, and rash. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system.
Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics, but some people develop the post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), which can cause long-lasting symptoms such as severe joint pain and neurocognitive problems. While there are Lyme disease vaccines for dogs, There are currently none approved for routine use in humans..
THIS VACCINE COULD REDUCE CASES OF LYME DISEASE
“Bacteria are more complex organisms than viruses and therefore it may be more difficult to develop effective vaccines against them,” the authors explain. “Here we were able to identify a target for an mRNA vaccine that shows promising results in preventing infection with B. burgdorferi in animal models,” they add.
According to this studythe researchers identified one of the proteins in B. Burgdorferi which provokes a powerful immune response, called outer surface protein A (OspA). This is a conserved protein across multiple strains of B. burgdorferi, making it an ideal target to prevent an initial infection with this bacteria from progressing to Lyme disease.
Tests in animal models showed that the mRNA vaccine targeting OspA induced a strong antigen-specific antibody and T cell response after a single vaccination that could protect against infection by B. burgdorferi. What’s more, the vaccine elicited a strong response from memory B cells, which can activate much later to help prevent infection long after the vaccine is administered.
“Cases of Lyme disease have increased significantly in the United States, underscoring the need for a vaccine to protect people from infection,” they note. “The mRNA technology “shows great promise for use in the development of a vaccine that can prevent Lyme disease and the subsequent development of the debilitating symptoms of PTLDS.”
2023-10-02 12:21:18
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