Early Valley Fever proteins tied to infection and vaccine design
Official title: Early in vivo expressed antigens and their role in virulence, immune response, and vaccines for coccidioidomycosis
Funded at Northern Arizona University · NIH-11393489 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops vaccine approaches using proteins that the Valley Fever fungus makes early in infection to protect people who live in or travel to affected areas.
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) | $438,089 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI166058-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393489 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who live, work, or frequently travel in Valley Fever–endemic regions and want protection from infection are the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who never go to endemic areas or those with severe immune deficiencies that prevent vaccine responses may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Researchers are identifying which Coccidioides proteins appear soon after infection and how those proteins affect disease and the immune response. They are using laboratory immune tests and animal models to see which proteins trigger strong antibody and T-cell responses. The team is building DNA and mRNA vaccine candidates that deliver those early proteins inside cells to mimic infection without causing disease, and they will refine the best candidates for future human testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce a safe vaccine that prevents Valley Fever or reduces severe illness.
How similar studies have gone: Live attenuated Valley Fever vaccines protected animals in preclinical studies and mRNA/DNA vaccines have worked well for other diseases, but human vaccine trials for Valley Fever are still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fuller, Deborah H. — Northern Arizona University
- Study coordinator: Fuller, Deborah H.
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.