With Lyme disease and tick populations on the rise, researchers at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada, are exploring the potential of a soil-dwelling fungus to help manage these threats. Clonostachys rosea, discovered by Luís Anholeto in the Annapolis Valley, shows promising results in killing ticks in lab tests. The research team hopes to use this fungus to develop a sustainable and eco-friendly way to manage tick populations to help areas heavily affected by Lyme disease. The context : Lyme disease is caused by the transfer of bacteria from the bites of infected blacklegged and American dog ticks. Incidents of Lyme disease in Nova Scotia have significantly increased, with cases rising from 17 in 2009 to 830 in 2019. The infection rate of blacklegged ticks in some areas of the province has reached as high as 40%. The striking increase in Lyme disease cases is likely due to higher populations of ticks and longer active seasons caused by climate change. A promising solution : Multiple species of fungi have shown promising results as natural pesticides that can specifically target pests without harming other organisms. These preliminary findings suggest Clonostachys rosea could be a highly effective tool in reducing tick populations because ticks tend to die quickly after coming in contact with the fungus. Next steps : “I would say there is not a magic cure that will eliminate ticks at all,” explained Prof. Faraone. “But for sure we can use different little approaches that all together will make a difference.” Researchers received a grant to continue studying the efficacy of Clonostachys rosea for tick management. Read more.