Few creatures are as widely disliked as ticks. Despite their small size, these parasites have a major impact on human and animal health by spreading viruses and bacteria to people, livestock, wildlife, and pets worldwide. Researchers at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine are working to understand better how ticks transmit disease and how those processes can be disrupted.
In a study published in The EMBO Journal, professor Hameeda Sultana and colleagues identified a tick protein that may help block disease transmission before infection occurs. Supported by the National Institutes of Health, the research highlights the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture’s contributions to advancing knowledge of vector-borne diseases.
Building on earlier discoveries made between 2018 and 2020, Sultana’s laboratory was the first to identify exosomes derived from tick saliva, salivary glands, and tick and mosquito cells. Exosomes are microscopic membrane-bound vesicles that carry proteins and other biological signals between cells and tissues. During feeding, ticks release saliva containing these vesicles, which help them evade host immune responses and may facilitate pathogen transmission.
The research team discovered that ticks produce an exosomal glycine-rich protein that plays a key role in feeding and virus transmission. When researchers used genetic tools to silence the gene responsible for this protein, ticks fed less effectively, gained less weight, and carried significantly lower levels of virus. These findings build on years of research examining how microscopic vesicles influence interactions between ticks, pathogens, and hosts.
The discovery has important implications for disease prevention. Researchers believe the protein could serve as a target for a transmission-blocking vaccine. Rather than targeting a virus directly, this approach targets a molecule within the tick, preventing successful feeding or pathogen transmission. By interrupting the process at an early stage, infections may be stopped before reaching the host.
According to faculty collaborator Girish Neelakanta, understanding tick biology can reveal new opportunities to reduce the spread of multiple pathogens. Researchers increasingly view exosomes as promising targets because of their central role in tick feeding and pathogen interactions. Continued study of these vesicles may lead to innovative exosome-based strategies for controlling vector-borne diseases.
As tick-borne diseases continue to rise globally, new prevention approaches are urgently needed. The identification of this exosomal protein adds to a growing body of research exploring how parasites communicate with their hosts at the microscopic level. By uncovering the hidden mechanisms ticks use to spread disease, scientists are paving the way for practical advances in both human and animal health. In the future, these tiny biological messengers may play a major role in preventing the transmission of vector-borne diseases.
More information: Waqas Ahmed et al, Arthropod exosomal glycine-rich protein as a potential vaccine candidate effectively reduces tick blood-feeding and pathogen transmission, The EMBO Journal. DOI: 10.1038/s44318-026-00709-z
Journal information: The EMBO Journal Provided by University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
