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<p>Lyme disease, caused by <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> and transmitted by <i>Ixodes scapularis</i> ticks, remains a significant vector-borne illness in the United States. Small mammal reservoirs, particularly <i>Peromyscus leucopus</i>, play a critical role in <i>B. burgdorferi</i> maintenance. Here, we conducted a five-year, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled field trial deploying an oral OspA-based reservoir-targeted vaccine (RTV) across seven Maryland sites. Bayesian modeling provided estimates of vaccine impact on mouse anti-OspA antibody levels, nymphal tick infection prevalence (NIP), mouse infection rates, and seroconversion to <i>B. burgdorferi</i> in hunting dogs. RTV sites exhibited an estimated 10.5% proportional increase in protective murine anti-OspA antibody levels and a 15.4% reduction in NIP by year five. We also found a lower infection prevalence in mouse blood-fed nymphal ticks (9.8%). RTV sites exhibited modest decreases in mouse infection prevalence, and dog seroconversion rates were similar between groups. Our results indicate that anti-OspA antibody in vaccinated-infected/uninfected <i>P. leucopus</i> reduced <i>B. burgdorferi</i> summertime larval infection prevalence, measured as NIP reductions the following spring. This suggests that OspA-based oral RTV reduces <i>B. burgdorferi</i> transstadial transmission within tick populations. Our findings advance the development of reservoir-targeted solutions for Lyme disease prevention. Further evaluation of impacts on incidental hosts is needed.</p>

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A double-blinded, placebo-controlled field trial of an OspA-based oral reservoir targeted vaccine against Borrelia burgdorferi

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月11日

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  • Amy M. Schwartz,
  • Ferney Henao-Ceballos,
  • Kathryn Arnold,
  • Julia Poje,
  • Max Waugh,
  • Greg Joyner,
  • Jose F. Azevedo,
  • Tyler Baccam,
  • Eric Kontowicz,
  • Kurayi Mahachi,
  • Paige Witucki,
  • Suman Kundu,
  • Nisha Nair,
  • Felix Pabon-Rodriguez,
  • Grant Brown,
  • Briana Bowen,
  • Kaleigh Conroy,
  • Eli Davis,
  • Tanner Davis,
  • Joseph Ferguson,
  • Lexi Frank,
  • Victoria Kamilar,
  • David Marquez,
  • Carly Martin,
  • Emily Knight,
  • Rachel S. Krizek,
  • Chelsi Preuc,
  • Alec Rutherford,
  • Phurchhoki Sherpa,
  • Reegan Sturgeon,
  • Derek Thorne,
  • Jay Xiao,
  • Christine Petersen,
  • Maria Gomes-Solecki

摘要

Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted by Ixodes scapularis ticks, remains a significant vector-borne illness in the United States. Small mammal reservoirs, particularly Peromyscus leucopus, play a critical role in B. burgdorferi maintenance. Here, we conducted a five-year, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled field trial deploying an oral OspA-based reservoir-targeted vaccine (RTV) across seven Maryland sites. Bayesian modeling provided estimates of vaccine impact on mouse anti-OspA antibody levels, nymphal tick infection prevalence (NIP), mouse infection rates, and seroconversion to B. burgdorferi in hunting dogs. RTV sites exhibited an estimated 10.5% proportional increase in protective murine anti-OspA antibody levels and a 15.4% reduction in NIP by year five. We also found a lower infection prevalence in mouse blood-fed nymphal ticks (9.8%). RTV sites exhibited modest decreases in mouse infection prevalence, and dog seroconversion rates were similar between groups. Our results indicate that anti-OspA antibody in vaccinated-infected/uninfected P. leucopus reduced B. burgdorferi summertime larval infection prevalence, measured as NIP reductions the following spring. This suggests that OspA-based oral RTV reduces B. burgdorferi transstadial transmission within tick populations. Our findings advance the development of reservoir-targeted solutions for Lyme disease prevention. Further evaluation of impacts on incidental hosts is needed.