Scientists in the US have developed a vaccine to protect people against Lyme disease, an infection contracted through the bite of an infected tick.
Tests at the University of Pennsylvania showed that a single dose of the experimental jab in mice produced an immune response potentially strong enough to ward off the bacteria responsible.
Lyme disease affects around 3,000 people in Britain every year, although the charity Lyme Disease Action estimates the actual number is closer to 15,000, as many of those affected do not seek medical attention for the painful joints and flu-like symptoms it can cause. cause.
The disease is caused by bites from ticks infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is usually caught when they feed on other animals (mainly rodents) that carry the beetle.
Cases of Lyme disease in Britain have increased almost tenfold since 2000, largely because milder winters have allowed ticks to flourish.
Scientists in the US have developed a vaccine to protect people against Lyme disease, an infection contracted from the bite of an infected tick (stock image)
Symptoms such as fatigue, joint and muscle pain, headache, fever and stiff neck typically develop between two and thirty days after the bite.
An early sign is a bull’s-eye rash, which indicates that the tick’s bacteria are spreading around the area of the bite.
Antibiotics can stop the spread of the bacteria if given quickly, but many people do not realize they have been bitten because the tick is so small.
If the infection is not treated, it can lead to nerve problems (including numbness in the arms and legs), chronic fatigue, memory loss, concentration problems and heart rhythm disturbances, which may require medication.
The new vaccine is a type of mRNA vaccine, developed using the same advanced technology used to make the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 jabs.
MRNA vaccines use genetic material from the bacteria to tell the body’s cells to produce a certain protein, programming the immune system to look for the bug. They are faster and cheaper to make than conventional vaccines and do not use live viruses, as is the case with many existing vaccines.
The Lyme shot uses genetic material from a protein found in the bacteria called Outer Surface Protein A or OspA. Once the immune system comes into contact with this genetic material, it begins to produce infection-fighting cells that are able to ward off the disease if it is encountered later.
Crucially, the OspA protein is found in all strains of Borrelia burgdorferi (there are at least 18), meaning the vaccine should be effective against all strains.
Blood samples from vaccinated mice showed that they still had high levels of protection six months after receiving just one shot, according to results published in August in the journal Cell Press.
Researchers now hope to reproduce the results in clinical trials with human volunteers.
Meanwhile, Moderna is also recruiting up to 800 volunteers for a trial of its own mRNA vaccine for Lyme disease. The first results are expected in 2026.
Rival firm Pfizer is also developing a Lyme disease shot made with cells from the harmful bacteria – a more conventional method – which could be available within the next three years.
Commenting on the recent findings, Professor Hany Elsheikha, an expert in veterinary parasitology at the University of Nottingham, said: ‘The results are encouraging, but it is still too early to translate the findings into a human vaccine.’
Dynamic duos
Nutrients that work best together.
This week: Vitamin C and E
Individually, vitamin C (found in citrus fruits, berries, leafy greens, potatoes and Brussels sprouts) and vitamin E (found in avocado, nuts and seeds, quinoa and vegetable oils) have powerful antioxidant properties that help protect cells from damage.
“However, a combination of the two has been shown to be much more effective than either vitamin alone,” says dietitian Orli Rhodes.
‘Specifically, research published in the journal Circulation shows that taking the vitamins in supplement form can help reduce plaque buildup and maintain the elasticity of blood vessels, lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. That would also apply to ‘real’ foods.’
Attempt: Colorful stir-fry vegetables with salmon, or red pepper stuffed with quinoa and goat cheese
Secrets of an A-List Body
This week: AJ Odudu’s arms
TV presenter AJ Odudu led the launch of the new series of Big Brother in a blue latex outfit that revealed her toned arms
TV presenter AJ Odudu led the launch of the new series of Big Brother in a blue latex outfit that revealed her toned arms.
The 35-year-old, a certified sports nutritionist, enjoys running, lifting weights and jumping; she has a gym at the back of her garden and sees a personal trainer three times a week.
“There’s nothing that motivates you more than paying a personal trainer, because whether you show up or not, they get paid,” she said.
What to try: The upright row effectively trains the shoulders and upper arm muscles, creating shape and strength. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, your arms in front of your body and a dumbbell in each hand.
Lift by raising your elbows out to the sides, with your arms bent, at chest level. Slowly lower them back to your waist. Repeat ten times for three sets, three times a week.