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Human Immune Response to Ixodes Scapularis Tick Bites

NCT05036707 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: PHASE1/PHASE2 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 60

Last updated 2026-05-06

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Background:

Each year, the number of cases of tick-borne diseases increases. The deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) is the vector of at least 7 pathogens that cause human diseases, including Lyme disease. Researchers want to learn more to help them develop vaccines against ticks in the future.

Objective:

To learn how people s bodies, particularly the skin, respond to tick bites.

Eligibility:

Healthy adults aged 18 years and older who have no known history of a tick-borne disease or tick bite exposure.

Design:

Participants will be screened with a medical history, physical exam, and blood tests.

Participants will have 2 skin punch biopsies of healthy skin. For this, a sharp instrument will be used to remove a round plug of skin about the size of a pencil eraser. Participants will then have 10 clean laboratory-bred ticks placed at 2 different sites on their skin (20 ticks total). The ticks will be removed from the first site 1 day after placement and from the second site 2-4 days after placement. Participants will complete symptom diary cards. They will answer questions about itching at the tick feeding sites. They will give blood samples. Photos will be taken of the tick feeding sites. Skin punch biopsies will be collected at the sites of the tick bites.

Participants will repeat the tick feeding procedures 2 times, each 2-8 weeks apart. For the 2nd and 3rd procedures, 10 clean laboratory-bred ticks will be placed at 1 site. The ticks will be removed 2-3 days after tick placement. They will have telephone follow-up visits after each procedure.

After the final tick removal, participants will have follow-up visits in 4-6 weeks and again in 3 months. They will give blood samples and discuss how they are feeling.

Participation will last about 5-7 months.

Conditions

Interventions

DEVICE

Xenodiagnosis Ticks

Larval ticks will be obtained from Dr. Sam Telford from a laboratory maintained tick colony at Tufts Veterinary School. These ticks are hatched from eggs laid by ticks that have fed only on specific pathogen free laboratory animals that were purchased from established vendors.

PROCEDURE

skin biopsy

2-3 mm skin punch biopsies will be performed.

PROCEDURE

blood draw

Peripheral blood draws will be performed.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

    lead NIH

Principal Investigators

  • Adriana R Marques, M.D. · National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
99 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2022-02-28
Primary Completion
2028-06-30
Completion
2028-06-30
FDA Device
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05036707 on ClinicalTrials.gov