Lyme disease ticks produce antibiotic that protects them from human skin bacteria

(University of California - San Francisco) Ticks live dangerous lives, spending most of their time questing for a host across wildly different habitats and seasons. Once they encounter a reptile, bird, or a mammal like us, they become intimately connected with it -- and all of its bacteria and viruses -- for days on end. Though ticks are notorious for transmitting pathogens such as the Lyme disease bacterium, how does their immune system keep them safe from contracting pathogens themselves?
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news