Coccidioides (Valley fever) fungal mutants and animal models
Animal models and fungal mutants
Researchers are using mutated Valley fever fungi in mouse models to learn how the organisms cause disease and to find possible targets for future treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247118 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project keeps a collection of Coccidioides fungi and works in a high-containment (BSL-3) lab to change specific fungal genes. Scientists make targeted mutations and test how the mutant fungi grow in the lab and in mice to see which genes drive infection. Mouse experiments are used to observe immune responses and generate ideas about which host or fungal pathways could be targeted. The Core supports several linked projects and aims to reveal new therapeutic targets for Valley fever.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had Valley fever, live or travel in areas where Coccidioides is common, or who can donate clinical samples to UCLA or its partner clinics are the most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or those with conditions unrelated to Valley fever are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify fungal or host targets that lead to new drugs, vaccines, or immune-based therapies for Valley fever.
How similar studies have performed: Similar approaches using fungal genetics and mouse models have previously improved understanding of fungal virulence, but translating those findings into new Valley fever treatments or vaccines has been slow.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fierer, Joshua — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Fierer, Joshua
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.