Lyme Disease Vaccine Recombinant OspA

Lyme Disease Vaccine Recombinant OspA is a vaccine designed to prevent Lyme disease, an infection caused by the bacterium *Borrelia burgdorferi*. This vaccine contains recombinant Outer Surface Protein A (OspA), a lipoprotein found on the surface of *Borrelia burgdorferi*. Its mechanism of action involves inducing the vaccinated individual's immune system to produce antibodies against OspA. When a tick carrying *Borrelia burgdorferi* feeds on a vaccinated host, these antibodies are ingested by the tick. Inside the tick's midgut, the antibodies bind to the OspA on the bacteria, neutralizing and killing them before they can be transmitted to the human host. The most well-known instance of this vaccine type, LYMErix, was developed by SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline) and approved by the FDA in 1998. However, it was voluntarily discontinued in 2002 due to insufficient market demand and unproven public concerns regarding potential autoimmune side effects, despite clinical evidence of its safety and efficacy. Another similar vaccine, ImuLyme, was developed by Pasteur Mérieux-Connaught but was not licensed in the US.

Brand names

LYMErixImuLyme

Other names

Lipoprotein Outer Surface A Vaccine