Nantucket Scientists Target Mice to Curb Lyme Disease Spread

NANTUCKET, Massachusetts — For nearly 40 years, Dr. Timothy Lepore has served as the only emergency room head and surgeon on Nantucket, a small island known for its picturesque landscapes and high rate of Lyme disease. About 15% of the island’s population struggles with the illness. As he nears retirement, Lepore may witness a groundbreaking approach to combat this widespread tick-borne disease.

A team of scientists led by Kevin Esvelt, an associate professor at MIT, plans to address the root cause of Lyme disease transmission on the island: wild mice. Unlike deer and ticks, which are often blamed for the disease, white-footed mice are the primary hosts for Lyme bacteria, which spreads when an infected tick bites an uninfected mouse.

“We have a problem with tick-borne disease because we engineered the environment to maximize the number of ticks and maximize the number of mice that are the best hosts of Lyme disease,” Esvelt noted. The scientists aim to genetically modify mice to make them immune to Lyme disease and then release them into the wild. This solution hopes to decrease the number of infected ticks that can transmit the disease.

The narrative of Lyme disease on Nantucket traces back to 1926 when residents voted to introduce deer to the island to enhance wildlife. By the 1950s, conservation efforts had created ideal conditions for ticks and their mouse hosts, leading to a rapid increase in their populations.

Dr. Lepore treats dozens of Lyme patients annually and supports the scientists’ initiative. He emphasizes the need for thorough testing to ensure that altering the mouse population won’t disrupt the island’s ecosystem. “We have to be careful because we are doing things that couldn’t happen naturally,” he said.

The scientists have presented their plans at multiple town hall meetings, discussing potential ecological impacts while seeking community input. Some residents express caution, fearing that tinkering with the ecosystem could have unforeseen consequences.

Esvelt, however, believes that inaction could continue to harm the community, stating, “On the other hand, I’m not terribly fond of Mother Nature if she’s going to give my kids disease.” If the community ultimately agrees, a small-scale field trial could be conducted on a private island to assess ecological impacts before wider implementation.

The anticipation grows as this innovative approach could reshape the fight against Lyme disease and offer new hope for residents like Lepore and the island’s many Lyme sufferers.