The Major Epidemiologic, Microbiologic, Immunologic, and Clinical Aspects of Lyme Disease That Form the Basis for a Newly Developed Vaccine That May Become Available Soon for Human Use

Authors

Charles S. Pavia, Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, United States.
Gregory Saggio, Department of Clinical Specialties, New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, United States.
Maria M. Plummer, Department of Clinical Specialties, New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, United States.

Author Type(s)

Faculty

DOI

10.3389/fimmu.2023.1326623

Journal Title

Frontiers in Immunology

First Page

1326623

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2023

Department

Medicine

Abstract

Working together, two major pharmaceutical companies have developed a Lyme disease vaccine consisting of recombinant-derived outer surface protein A (OspA) of the etiologic agent . Multiple clinical trials have shown the vaccine to have good safety and efficacy results, and it is hoped that it would become available for human use at least by the year 2025 after receiving approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. There are still challenges left to ensure that the vaccine has, at most, minimal side effects. Also, because the previously developed Lyme disease vaccine was discontinued in 2002 after four years of distribution, due in part, for frivolous reasons having little or no scientific basis, that even led to legal entanglements involving the vaccine manufacturer and some of the medical personnel overseeing the clinical trials, there will be concerns that this newly developed one could be subject again to some of the same unnecessary scrutiny rendering its implementation suboptimal. Initially this review will focus on the key epidemiological, microbiologic, immunologic and clinical aspects of Lyme disease that provide the foundation for developing this type of vaccine that could have a serious impact on the prevalence of this and even certain other tick-transmitted infections.

Recommended Citation

Pavia, C. S., Saggio, G., & Plummer, M. M. (2023). The Major Epidemiologic, Microbiologic, Immunologic, and Clinical Aspects of Lyme Disease That Form the Basis for a Newly Developed Vaccine That May Become Available Soon for Human Use. Frontiers in Immunology, 14, 1326623. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1326623