Studying Human Immune Response to Tick Bites

This study aims to understand how your body, especially your skin, reacts to bites from deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis). Researchers hope to use this information to develop future vaccines against ticks and the diseases they carry, like Lyme disease. You may be eligible if you are a healthy adult, aged 18 or older, and have no history of tick-borne diseases or known tick bites. The study will assess the safety of using laboratory-raised ticks and develop a model of how humans might become resistant to tick bites. The study's status is currently unclear.

Study design
This is a single-center study planning to enroll 60 participants. It is a prospective, non-randomized study.
What's involved
You will undergo up to three tick feeding placements, 2 to 8 weeks apart. You will also have blood draws and skin punch biopsies from tick bite sites and unaffected skin.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Safety will be monitored continuously, and the development of tick resistance will be assessed at the end of the study.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05036707

Human Immune Response to Ixodes Scapularis Tick Bites

Recruiting
PHASE1Ages 18–99InterventionalDiagnostic
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
~60 participants
Updated 2026-05-06 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Xenodiagnosis Ticksskin biopsyblood draw

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Assessment of Safety of the device. Use toxicity tables and safety monitoring as specified in the protocol.
Measured over continuous
+1 more outcome measured
Tick-borne Diseases
Tick Resistance
Lyme Disease

NCT05036707

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

    Bethesda, Marylandstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

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

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

  • Assessment of Safety of the device. Use toxicity tables and safety monitoring as specified in the protocol.continuous

    Ongoing assessment of safety.

  • Develop a model of acquired tick resistance in humans. Use validated pruritus scales, numerical rating system, verbal rating system, and visual analogue system.end of study

    Clinical measures of tick immunity.