An investigative vaccine designed to provide broad protection against a range of mosquito-transmitted diseases such as Zika, malaria, West Nile fever and dengue fever has been launched in a phase 1 clinical trial, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The vaccine, which was developed by London-based pharmaceutical company SEER, is designed to trigger an immune response to mosquito saliva rather than to a specific virus or parasite carried by mosquitos. The immune response would cause a modified allergic response that can prevent infection when a person is bitten by a disease-carrying mosquito.

Up to 60 adults will be enrolled in the double-blind study, which is anticipated to wrap up in summer 2018. Success will be determined by measures of antibodies triggered by vaccination as well as controlled exposure to non-disease-carrying mosquitoes.

Investigators will also examine the mosquitoes after they are introduced to vaccinated trial participants to assess any changes to their life cycle. Scientists suspect that the mosquitoes that consume blood from a vaccinated participant may have altered behavior that could lead to early death or a reduced ability to reproduce, hindering potential transmission of diseases.