Research

Ongoing Research

Scientific research on ticks and tick-borne diseases is ongoing and constantly evolving. Researchers worldwide are working to better understand tick biology, disease transmission, prevention methods, and treatment options. This research is essential for improving public health outcomes and developing more effective strategies to combat tick-borne diseases.

Research Spotlight: The Phase 3 VALOR trial for a Lyme disease vaccine (VLA15) by Pfizer and Valneva is currently underway, representing the most advanced Lyme vaccine candidate in over two decades. Results are expected by the end of 2025.

Research Areas

Tick Biology and Ecology

Researchers are studying:

Tick life cycles and development
Tick behavior and host-seeking patterns
Environmental factors affecting tick populations
Climate change impacts on tick distribution - A 2024 review in Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases evaluated the dramatic increases in blacklegged tick distribution over the last half-century linked to climate warming
Tick genetics and evolution - The University of Maryland received a five-year NIH grant to study the complex biology of the deer tick and molecular interactions between ticks and hosts
Host-tick interactions

Research from the Parasites & Vectors journal (2025) examines how temperature changes have influenced the northward expansion of Ixodes ricinus ticks in Europe over the past 40 years.

Disease Transmission

Studies focus on:

How pathogens are transmitted from ticks to hosts
Factors affecting transmission efficiency
Co-infections and multiple pathogen transmission - The Maine Tick Surveillance Program (2024) found that 1.9% of ticks carried all three major pathogens (Borrelia, Babesia, and Anaplasma)
Pathogen-tick interactions - A study in the Journal of Biomedical Science investigates how multiple tick-borne pathogens affect host metabolic processes
Transmission dynamics in different environments

According to Science Daily (2024), approximately 41% of babesiosis patients were co-infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease.

Prevention and Control

Research efforts include:

Development of new repellents and acaricides
Effectiveness of existing prevention methods
Environmental control strategies - A 2024 study in Parasites & Vectors introduced a modeling platform to evaluate combined tick control methods including biological control agents
Vaccine development - Pfizer and Valneva's Phase 3 VALOR trial for the VLA15 Lyme disease vaccine is currently underway, with results expected by end of 2025
Integrated pest management approaches - Research on vector control program capacity highlights the need for increased resources for community-level tick management
Personal protection strategies

Innovative research from Yale University (2024) demonstrates that mRNA vaccines targeting tick saliva proteins can induce resistance to tick bites, representing a novel approach to preventing tick-borne disease transmission.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Ongoing research covers:

Improved diagnostic methods - The National Science Foundation is funding development of a rapid, multiplexed point-of-care assay to detect multiple tick-borne diseases simultaneously
Early detection techniques - A BMC Microbiology review discusses innovations in Lyme disease diagnosis including novel biomarker approaches
Treatment protocols and effectiveness
Antibiotic resistance
Long-term outcomes and complications - Johns Hopkins research has identified distinctive brain changes in patients with Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS)
Post-treatment monitoring - NIH-funded research is investigating the root causes of PTLDS including autoimmune responses and persistent inflammation

A 2024 Tulane University study identified fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitors as a potential new treatment for persistent neurological symptoms of Lyme disease.

Impact on Public Health

Research on tick-borne diseases has a direct impact on public health strategies:

Surveillance: The CDC's National Tick Surveillance Program has expanded to 36 states, dramatically increasing documented tick presence across the country
Prevention Guidelines: Scientific evidence informs prevention recommendations
Treatment Protocols: Research guides treatment guidelines and best practices
Public Education: Research findings help inform public awareness campaigns
Policy Development: The NIH Strategic Plan for Tickborne Disease Research (2025) outlines five key priorities including fundamental knowledge, detection, prevention, treatment, and research resources

The CDC's Tickborne Pathogen Surveillance report outlines the geographic distribution of major pathogens including Borrelia burgdorferi, Powassan virus, and Babesia microti within tick populations.

Recent Developments

Recent research has contributed to our understanding of:

Expanding geographic ranges of ticks and tick-borne diseases - University of Stirling modeling (2024) predicts tick populations could nearly double in Scotland by 2080 due to climate change
Climate change impacts on tick populations - USGS research (2024) found that warmer climates lead to increased tick parasitism on moose
New tick species and pathogens
Improved diagnostic methods - Research on tick saliva biomarkers shows promise for improved surveillance and early detection tools
Better understanding of disease mechanisms - 2024 research in Frontiers in Neurology explores how dysautonomia may contribute to Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome
Development of new prevention tools - November 2025 brought positive final Phase 2 results for the VLA15 Lyme disease vaccine candidate

Challenges in Research

Tick-borne disease research faces several challenges:

Complex interactions between ticks, pathogens, hosts, and environment
Multiple pathogens and co-infections
Variability in disease presentation
Limited funding for research
Need for long-term studies
Geographic and seasonal variations

Future Directions

Future research priorities include:

Development of effective vaccines - Beyond the VLA15 Lyme disease vaccine, researchers are exploring mRNA vaccines targeting tick saliva proteins that could induce broad resistance to tick bites
Improved diagnostic tools - Development of AI-powered tick identification systems using deep learning could enable faster species identification and risk assessment
Better understanding of long-term outcomes - Research at Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center has linked persistent inflammation and autoimmune responses to PTLDS development
Climate change adaptation strategies
Integrated prevention approaches - Studies on integrating anti-tick vaccines into comprehensive tick management programs represent a sustainable control approach
Personalized treatment strategies

For fiscal year 2025, Congress proposed increasing NIH funding for Lyme and tick-borne disease research to $125 million, reflecting the growing priority of this public health challenge.

Getting Involved

There are ways to support tick-borne disease research:

Participate in Studies: Consider participating in research studies if opportunities arise
Report Tick Encounters: Programs like TickReport allow you to submit ticks for professional testing and contribute to surveillance data
Citizen Science Programs: Rutgers University's Ticks 4 Science program invites residents to submit tick specimens to help track populations and prevent tick-borne illnesses
Support Research Organizations: Consider supporting organizations that fund tick research such as the Tick-Borne Disease Research Program (TBDRP)
Stay Informed: Follow research updates and findings
Share Information: Help disseminate research findings to your community

The Tick Inventory via Citizen Science (TICS) program launched in 2024 has collected over 3,200 tick submissions from Wisconsin residents for research.

Staying Updated

To stay informed about the latest research:

Follow updates from public health agencies like the CDC's tick surveillance program
Read scientific publications in journals such as Parasites & Vectors and Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
Attend public health seminars and conferences
Follow reputable research institutions like the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center
Check for updates from tick research programs and the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Important Note

Research findings continue to evolve, and recommendations may change as new evidence emerges. It's important to consult with healthcare providers and public health agencies for the most current information and recommendations based on the latest research.