Study Sheds New Light On Lyme Disease Transmission

New research on the tick-borne bacteria responsible for Lyme disease likely will make scientists think differently about how to develop a more effective vaccine. The findings clearly demonstrate that as a tick feeds on its host, molecular changes occur on the outer surface of the Lyme bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi that are more complex than previously known. During the tick's blood meal, its saliva transmits the bacteria to the host.