Early infection targets in Valley Fever
Official title: Early in vivo Expressed Antigens and their Role in Virulence, Immune Response, and Vaccines for Coccidioidomycosis
Funded at Northern Arizona University · NIH-11393544 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for fungal proteins and immune signals that appear early in Valley Fever to help create better vaccines and tests for people at risk.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $344,960 |
| NIH project number | 3U19AI166058-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393544 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with Valley Fever or who recently developed symptoms at participating clinics in endemic areas would be the main candidates to provide samples or be followed.
✕Less likely to help
People without Valley Fever or those needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic-science-focused project.
What this research studies
If I join, researchers will look for proteins the Coccidioides fungus makes right at the start of infection and use CRISPR to remove those genes to see if the fungus becomes less harmful in insect, mouse, and monkey models. They'll also collect blood from patients at three clinics and use deep DNA sequencing to map the T-cell receptors that respond to those early fungal proteins. By combining what they learn in the lab and from patient immune responses, the team will prioritize targets for diagnostics and vaccine design. The goal is to turn those targets into tests or vaccine ingredients that could help people in areas where Valley Fever is common.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could lead to earlier, more accurate tests and improved vaccines that prevent or reduce the severity of Valley Fever.
How similar studies have gone: Antigen-discovery and T-cell sequencing methods have supported vaccine and diagnostic advances for other infections, but applying these approaches to Coccidioides is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keim, Paul Stephen — Northern Arizona University
- Study coordinator: Keim, Paul Stephen
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.