New Mouse Study Method Enables Comparative Vaccine Studies for Tularemia

New Mouse Study Method Enables Comparative Vaccine Studies for Tularemia

New Mouse Study Method Enables Comparative Vaccine Studies for Tularemia

NIAID scientists have found a new way to study vaccines that may protect against tularemia (also known as deerfly fever or rabbit fever). Tularemia primarily affects mammals, commonly rodent species. Humans can become infected through inhalation, bites from certain ticks and flies, or contact with infected animals. In the United States, naturally occurring infections have been reported from all states except Hawaii. There is no licensed vaccine against tularemia.

Scanning electron micrograph of a rodent macrophage (yellow) infected with tularemia (blue). Credit: NIAID.