University of Melbourne Mar 5 2026 The world's first lab-based tick feeding system for bush ticks, developed by researchers at the University of Melbourne, has transformed the study of ticks and how they transmit disease. The novel, host-free technology reduces the need for animal experiments in tick studies, facilitating more ethical, reproducible research. Ticks are among the most significant carriers of infectious disease worldwide, transmitting a wide range of viruses, bacteria , and