Study identifies potential protein target for a vaccine against spotted fever

A protein found in cells of the hard tick Amblyomma sculptum, the main vector of the bacterium that causes Brazilian spotted fever (also known as Rocky Mountain spotted fever), is essential to the tick's survival while feeding, making it a promising target for development of a vaccine, according to an article published in the journal Parasites & Vectors. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil.