Tick, Tick, Lyme: The Explosive Danger of Ticks (And What We’re Doing to Solve It)

Ticks are responsible for spreading many different germs, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and are even capable of giving humans a deadly allergy (alpha-gal syndrome). If you have ever gone hiking, you’re probably familiar with the CDC recommendations: use insect repellant, wear long sleeve shirts and pants, tuck your pants into your socks, and make sure to check your body for ticks after being outdoors. The most dangerous, and most common, disease transmitted by ticks is Lyme disease, which is caused by bacteria and is spread widely throughout the northern U.S. What are scientists doing to help prevent, diagnose, and treat this illness? The Curley Lab at Union College is working with partners at SUNY Albany and the New York State Department of Health to study how Lyme disease affects the body, how the immune system reacts to the bacterial infection, and how it can be prevented with new vaccines.

This event will feature a talk beginning at 6pm, given by Professor Stephanie Curley, along with a poster session both before and after the talk given by her research students.

Free and open to the public.