Scientists have sequenced the genome of the white-food mouse, the primary carrier of Lyme disease.
, Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne illness in the U.S. Those bitten by ticks which transmit the disease can develop a fever, headache, chills, fatigue, joint and muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes. In many cases, patients experience an erythema migrans rash that can grow up to 12 inches around the area of the tick bite. Around 329,000 cases are thought to occur each year, although the true number of infections is thought to be higher.
In the past researchers investigating the conditions have studied the unrelated Mus musculus, or house mouse, species which is often used in medicine and whose genome has been sequenced.sequenced the genome of the white-footed deer mouse in the hope of uncovering the genetic differences between the species, and understanding why it is the primary carrier of Lyme disease.
The team found differences in the gene expressions associated with hair follicles and skin in the different mice species. They believe that after a few weeks, the white-footed deer mouse's skin reacts to the infection, and changes may enable the bacteria to multiply to levels that can help it can spread.
Future studies might look at how to rid P. leucopus of the bacteria or the creation of a vaccination."A long term goal would be having lower infection rates in the wild so that if you are bitten the tick is less likely to be carrying the disease," said Long.
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