Early immune clues to Valley Fever helping vaccines and diagnosis
Official title: Early in vivo expressed antigens and their role in virulence, immune response, and vaccines for coccidioidomycosis
Funded at Northern Arizona University · NIH-11397281 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research effort to find T cell targets in Valley Fever patients and animal models that could guide better vaccines and diagnostic tests.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northern Arizona University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Flagstaff, United States) |
| Project start | August 24, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $67,794 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI166058-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397281 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Valley Fever or related fungal infections, and animal model data that reflect human immune responses.
✕Less likely to help
People without Valley Fever or without the relevant immune responses may not benefit from this specific work.
What this research studies
This project looks at how T cells respond to coccidioidomycosis and which parts of the fungus trigger those responses. Researchers will identify specific antigens and their T cell receptors in humans and animals, using a peptide-stimulation approach. The goal is to connect immune signatures with disease states to improve diagnosis and vaccine prioritization. The work includes studying early expressed fungal antigens and how they relate to TCR profiles in patients with Valley Fever. Findings could point toward public TCR sequences useful for future diagnostics and vaccines.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to faster, more accurate diagnosis and better vaccine targets for Valley Fever.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show T cell responses are important for protection against Coccidioides in models and humans, supporting this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Settles, Erik W — Northern Arizona University
- Study coordinator: Settles, Erik W
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.