Latvian scientists develop promising Lyme disease vaccine candidate
After more than a decade of research, a team led by Kalvis Brangulis has identified the CspZ protein, which could form the basis for an effective vaccine against Lyme disease.
In Latvia, 20 to 70 percent of ticks are infected with Borrelia bacteria, meaning that every other tick encountered during a walk in the forest, meadow, or even backyard garden can carry the pathogen. Official statistics for 2024 report 359 cases of Lyme disease, but researcher Kalvis Brangulis believes the actual number is considerably higher.
Currently, no effective human vaccine against Lyme disease is available. The most advanced candidate is being developed by pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Valneva, but Latvian scientist Kalvis Brangulis proposes a simpler and potentially more effective solution.
Over more than a decade, Brangulis and his team studied over 400 Borrelia proteins, searching for one that the immune system can easily recognize. From this long selection process, the CspZ protein emerged as a leading candidate, showing high protective levels in mouse models. Unlike other approaches, CspZ could theoretically enable a simpler vaccine that covers a broader range of Borrelia strains and requires fewer doses.
The research group is small, consisting of Brangulis and four others: a postdoctoral researcher, two bachelor's students, and one master's student. Despite its size, the team has achieved significant results. Brangulis published a scientific paper on the research and received the annual award from the Latvian Academy of Sciences.
