Tick Talk: Scientists Unravel an Immune System Puzzle
Scientists have long thought that the tick and mosquito immune systems were the same. But their differences reveal a fascinating evolutionary legacy — and maybe a way to stop dangerous infections.
The ancient arthropods we call ticks are a scourge upon humans. The bloodsucking creatures carry bacteria, viruses and parasites that enter our circulatory systems when they latch on to our bodies for a feeding. In particular, the blacklegged tick spreads Lyme disease, a debilitating illness that is difficult to diagnose and treat. Nearly 30,000 people in the U.S. were infected, in 2015.
