Ways to develop effective vaccines for Lyme disease and the need to stop the infection were published Thursday in an issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. The paper is based on highlights from a conference of industry, government, and academia experts earlier this year.
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium transmitted through an infected tick bite. In the United States, there are an estimated 300,000 diagnosed cases annually, while in Europe, there are 100,000 cases. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of the body.
“We can envision the development of hybrid vaccine strategies targeted both to the offending microbe and to its tick carrier to prevent Lyme disease.” Dr. Maria Gomes-Solecki, lead author of the paper, said. “It is a two-prong approach.”
Lyme disease has been a recurring topic at conferences. The Food and Drug Administration has approved several diagnostic tests discussed at previous conferences that can be used in the field.
Dr. Rebecca Leshan, executive director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Banbury Center, where the conference was held, said she expects the concepts outlined in the Clinical Infectious Diseases paper will help people at risk for Lyme disease and that medical researchers see significant outcomes from previous discussions.