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From bug to drug: tick saliva could be key to treating heart disease

Research

Proteins found in tick saliva could be used to treat a potentially fatal form of heart disease, according to new Oxford University research.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

"With this latest research, we hope to be able to take inspiration from the tick’s anti-inflammatory strategy and design a life-saving therapy for this dangerous heart condition. We may also be able to use the same drugs to treat other diseases where inflammation plays a big part, such as heart attack, stroke, pancreatitis, and arthritis."

Professor Shoumo Bhattacharya, the study’s lead author and Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Oxford

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