“Looking for a Vaccine to Defang the Lyme Tick”

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Researchers are testing the efficacy of deer tick saliva against ticks in the hopes of developing a vaccine that may prevent Lyme disease. Scientists say the vaccine would not work against the bacteria that causes Lyme--rather it would kick in only when a tick begins biting its prey. Dr. Jose Ribeiro and other researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases note that tick saliva possess a variety of components that not only relieves pain and stops blood from coagulating but also subdue the host's immune system. Scientists are investigating other tick control solutions as well, including feeding stations for deer, and baited boxes for mice that are laced with a special tick pesticide to treat the rodents' fur.

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