A road map for the development, exploitation and implementation of anti-tick vaccines.Ī final report summary is available.Experimental proof of concept of an anti-tick vaccine - based on single or multiple antigens - protecting against multiple human tick-borne pathogens.Essential knowledge of the biological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of tick-borne diseases.The ANTIDotE project significantly contributed to the understanding of and steps towards the downscaling of TBDs in Europe. Therefore, anti-tick vaccines encompass an innovative strategy to prevent TBDs in humans, animals, and wildlife to reduce the risk of contracting TBDs for humans indirectly. Also, humans with hypersensitivity to tick-bites have a lower risk of contracting tick-borne diseases (TBDs). However, in animals, repeated tick infestations and vaccination against selected tick proteins can lead to decreased pathogen transmission by inhibiting tick feeding - known as ‘tick immunity’ - or by neutralising tick proteins that facilitate the transmission of TBPs. During feeding, ticks introduce salivary proteins to the skin that interfere with host defence mechanisms.

The overall objective was to identify and characterise tick proteins involved in ‘tick immunity’ and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) transmission and to use this knowledge to develop anti-tick vaccines to prevent multiple human TBDs.īackground Ixodes ricinus transmits bacterial, protozoal and viral pathogens that cause Lyme borreliosis, babesiosis, and tick-borne encephalitis, respectively and exceedingly affect Central and Eastern Europe.

ANTIDotE ran from December 2013 to November 2018.

Antidote