Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi which is transmitted to humans and other animals through the bites of infected ticks. It is currently the most common vector-borne disease in the United States, infecting approximately 476,000 individuals each year and sometimes causing severe disease and even death.
A team of scientists led by the New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases (NEWVEC) has recently discovered that the blood of white-tailed deer efficiently kills the bacteria causing this frequently debilitating illness, a finding that could lead to new strategies of prevention and treatment.
