Genes that make the Valley fever fungus harmful
Virulence gene discovery in Coccidioides
This project looks for genes in the Valley fever (Coccidioides) fungus that help it cause disease, to guide new treatments for people at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11257665 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are searching the fungus's genes to find which ones let it grow in soil, become airborne, and then turn into the disease-causing form in human lungs. They will use modern genetic tools (including CRISPR) and systems-level approaches to pinpoint genes linked to virulence and to study how the fungus changes during infection. The team combines fungal biology and statistical genetics expertise to build a list of promising targets for drugs or vaccines. Findings will create a foundation for later work aimed at preventing or treating coccidioidomycosis in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had Valley fever or live in high-risk areas (for example Arizona or California) would be the most likely candidates for future clinical work stemming from these discoveries.
Not a fit: People with fungal infections caused by other organisms or those with no exposure to Coccidioides are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets for medicines or vaccines that prevent or treat Valley fever.
How similar studies have performed: Gene-discovery and CRISPR-based approaches have revealed drug targets in other fungal pathogens, but applying these systems-level methods to Coccidioides is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sil, Anita — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Sil, Anita
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.