Scientists Unmask Lyme Disease’s Hidden Protein – And It Could Be the Key to a Vaccine

A reengineered bacterial protein may finally pave the way for a human Lyme disease vaccine. It exposes a weak spot that our immune system can target, offering real hope after decades of failed attempts. For decades, scientists have searched for a way to outsmart Lyme disease, a stealthy infection that affects nearly half a million people each year in the U.S. Now, a breakthrough may be within reach. Researchers have zeroed in on a bacterial protein called CspZ that helps the Lyme bacteria hide from the immune system. By cleverly reengineering this protein to expose its most vulnerable part, they’ve...