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The Uninfected Ixodes Scapularis Human Tick Challenge Model

NCT05965635 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 11

Last updated 2026-03-24

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

An innovative way to prevent multiple tick-borne diseases is an anti-tick vaccine, i.e. targeting the vector to prevent transmission of pathogens from the tick to the host. The rationale for an anti-tick vaccine stems from a phenomenon coined tick immunity. This study aims to show proof of concept that humans indeed develop immunity to ticks. Therefore subjects will be challenged three to four times with ticks reared in colony from a designated laboratory and that are exhaustively tested negative for various known tick-borne pathogens. Several tick feeding parameters will be evaluated to assess the development of tick immunity in the subjects. To this end, a total amount of ten ticks per challenge will be placed under a dressing placed on the forearm. The primary study endpoint is the tick feeding phenotype. Secondary parameters are signs of an immune response in the host; itch, redness, or other signs of a (local) immune response (blood and skin biopsies). All parameters, except for the skin biopsies, will be collected/evaluated after each tick challenge.

Conditions

  • Tick Bites
  • Immunity to Ticks

Interventions

OTHER

Ixodus scapularis nymphs

Tick challenge

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • ZonMw: The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development

    collaborator OTHER

  • Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-07-25
Primary Completion
2026-03-02
Completion
2026-03-02

Countries

  • Netherlands

Study Locations

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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 NCT05965635 on ClinicalTrials.gov