Barrett-Anne Briggs

Immunology and Microbiology

My research investigates the import of peptidoglycan synthesis precursors in Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease, within its primary tick vector, Ixodes scapularis. By employing novel CRISPR techniques, I am working to knock out the chbC gene, a putative chitobiose importer, to assess its impact on bacterial load throughout the tick's life cycle. The ultimate goal is to identify potential vaccine targets for Lyme disease. Targeting peptidoglycan synthesis—a critical process for bacterial growth and cell division—offers a promising strategy to disrupt replication and transmission.