MIT Researchers Propose Using Genetically Modified Mice to Fight Lyme Disease

In Massachusetts, researchers at MIT are proposing an experiment that would involve releasing genetically engineered mice into the native mouse population to ultimately reduce the prevalence of Lyme disease.Nantucket Island is the area proposed for the study, which has been years in development. Martha’s Vineyard is also under consideration. Researchers hope to find out if they can break the transmission cycle between ticks and white-footed mice—the primary carriers of Lyme disease. Ticks typically become carriers of the Lyme bacterium by biting infected mice, and then they pass it on to other mice as well as humans. Reductions in the number of infected ticks should, therefore, result in reduced human infections, according to the theory.

In Massachusetts, researchers at MIT are proposing an experiment that would involve releasing genetically engineered mice into the native mouse population to ultimately reduce the prevalence of Lyme disease.Nantucket Island is the area proposed for the study, which has been years in development. Martha’s Vineyard is also under consideration. Researchers hope to find out if they can break the transmission cycle between ticks and white-footed mice—the primary carriers of Lyme disease. Ticks typically become carriers of the Lyme bacterium by biting infected mice, and then they pass it on to other mice as well as humans. Reductions in the number of infected ticks should, therefore, result in reduced human infections, according to the theory.

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