Scientists Find 4 Tick-Borne Nairoviruses Evade Immunity as U.S. Disease Risks Spread
Updated
Updated · Newsweek · Jul 17
Scientists Find 4 Tick-Borne Nairoviruses Evade Immunity as U.S. Disease Risks Spread
3 articles · Updated · Newsweek · Jul 17
Summary
UC Riverside researchers found orthonairoviruses disable key immune alarms by using OTU proteases to strip ubiquitin and ISG15 from human cells, helping infections go undetected.
Four nairovirus enzymes were tested, and PCTNV—carried by the Pacific Coast tick in North America—was the most effective, raising concern about possible human exposure on the West Coast even though none is confirmed.
Anaplasmosis is also expanding in the U.S.; doctors say the deer tick-borne infection can resemble Lyme disease but lacks the bull's-eye rash, making blood tests important for diagnosis.
The broader warning extends to the Asian longhorned tick, detected in the U.S. in 2017 and now established in states including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as experts link rising vector-borne illness reports partly to climate shifts and expanding tick habitats.
Beyond Lyme, tick bites now cause meat allergies and untreatable viruses. What new health crises are emerging from our changing climate?
As ticks spread viruses that silently disable our immune systems, how can we detect these invisible threats before it is too late?
An invasive tick that clones itself now threatens humans and livestock in 27 states. Is our infrastructure prepared for this dual threat?
Nairoviruses on the Rise: How Tick-Borne Viruses Evade Immunity and Challenge Human Health Systems
Overview
Nairoviruses are emerging threats because they are transmitted by ticks and have sophisticated ways to evade the human immune system. Recent scientific discoveries are uncovering how these viruses bypass human immunity, which is a critical area of research for public health. While the specific mechanisms, such as unique viral proteins, are still being studied, our general understanding of their immune evasion is growing. This ability to circumvent the body's natural defenses means nairoviruses can spread undetected, highlighting the need for ongoing research, surveillance, and public awareness to prevent future outbreaks.