How immune signals IL-33 and SPRR affect mouth yeast infections
Official title: Role of immunomodulators IL-33 and SPRR in oropharyngeal candidiasis
Funded at Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center · NIH-11294032 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing whether two immune signals, IL‑33 and SPRR, can help the mouth heal from Candida (yeast) infections in people with weakened immune systems like those with HIV or cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Torrance, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $449,625 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DE035711-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11294032 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Best candidates are people who get severe or repeated oropharyngeal candidiasis, especially those with weakened immunity such as HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy patients, or transplant recipients.
✕Less likely to help
People with occasional, mild thrush or fungal infections limited to other body sites (not the mouth/throat) are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the mouth's immune cells and tissues respond when Candida causes infection. Scientists are using a spatial gene-mapping technique on infected tongue tissue to see where inflammatory and calming signals appear, with a focus on IL‑33 and SPRR. They pair these tissue maps with laboratory experiments to see whether changing these signals alters inflammation and tissue repair. The team aims to identify immune pathways that could be targeted to reduce symptoms and speed healing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that reduce painful inflammation and help the mouth heal faster from oral thrush in people with weakened immune systems.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies targeting inflammatory pathways like IL‑17 have helped control oral Candida, but focusing on IL‑33 and SPRR as immunomodulators in this setting is relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
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Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Uppuluri, Priya — Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Uppuluri, Priya
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.