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Let’s begin with a blacklegged tick. At the risk of anthropomorphizing, we’ll call him Hank. A fledgling tick, Hank is a larva, and to move into the next stage of his life cycle, a nymph, he needs a meal — specifically, a blood meal. So, young Hank, ever determined, latches on to a white-footed mouse —…

Dr. Jolieke G. van Oosterwijk, US Biologic Chief Scientific Officer, presented key findings on a chewable flu vaccine that US Biologic is developing in partnership with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Division of Research, Innovation, and Ventures (DRIVe) as part of its Beyond the Needle program. The presentation was held at the…

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Dr. Jolieke van Oosterwijk, Chief Scientific Officer with US Biologic, who highlights the Memphis-based company developing groundbreaking orally delivered vaccines, changing global disease prevention and allowing safe, effective, and cost-efficient delivery of preventative interventions to wildlife, companion animals, food animals, and humans. During the interview, Jolieke discusses how they…

US Biologic’s CSO, Dr. Jolieke G. van Oosterwijk, presented at the World Vaccine Congress in Washington, D.C. Dr. van Oosterwijk discussed “using zoonotic disease surveillance to guide oral vaccine design” and presented the methods US Biologic uses to prevent pandemic-level diseases. In her talk, Dr. van Oosterwijk explained to the audience the unique nature of oral…

“Other ticks, such as lone star ticks, carry diseases, too, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis and tularemia; yet we know even less about where these ticks are or how their populations are changing.” Full article

“The spread of Lyme disease has followed that of deer ticks. The incidence of Lyme has more than doubled over the past two decades. In 2016, federal health officials reported 36,429 new cases, and the illness has reached far beyond endemic areas in the Northeast to points west, south and north.” Full article

“For the first time in 50 years, a new tick species has arrived in the United States — one that in its Asian home range carries fearsome diseases. The Asian long-horned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, is spreading rapidly along the Eastern Seaboard. It has been found in seven states and in the heavily populated suburbs of…

“This really bites and sucks. The tick population continues to grow, Lyme Disease continues to spread, and now according to a recently released analysis from Quest Diagnostics Lyme  Disease can be found in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C.” Full article

“Practitioners in both veterinary and human medicine must remain aware of the changing geography of ticks and associated vector-borne diseases. The discovery of the Asian tick H longicornis in New Jersey and Virginia should be an important reminder of the fact that ‘ticks and tickborne pathogens do not recognize international boundaries.’ Thus, ‘a robust international disease monitoring network’…

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a tick that is spreading widely across the United States. Nine states have reported finding the Asian longhorned tick, which is known to carry a variety of pathogens. The CDC said late last week it is investigating how the tick could impact the U.S.” Full article