How influenza may protect against malaria-related lung failure
Official title: Elucidating influenza-induced protection of malaria-associated respiratory distress syndrome in mice
Funded at Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · NIH-11291308 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing whether a prior influenza infection can change lung cells and immune cells to stop severe malaria from causing life-threatening lung injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | February 24, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $192,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI185994-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11291308 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with severe malaria who are at risk for or showing early signs of malaria-associated respiratory distress would be the patient group most likely to benefit from related clinical work in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose lung injury comes from non-malaria causes or those not at risk for malaria-associated respiratory distress are unlikely to benefit directly from this mouse-focused work.
What this research studies
This project uses mouse models of malaria that develop malaria-associated acute lung injury and respiratory distress to follow up on a surprising finding that influenza co-infection prevents that lung damage. The team will study how influenza alters pulmonary vascular endothelial cells and drives arginase-1 producing monocytes, and how those changes blunt CD8 T cell–driven vascular leak. Experiments will include co-infections, cell and molecular analyses of lung tissues, and manipulation of the implicated immune pathways to confirm cause and effect. The goal is to identify cellular and molecular mechanisms that could be targeted to prevent or treat malaria-related lung injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the mechanisms found in mice translate to people, this could point to new therapies or prevention strategies to reduce deadly lung complications of severe malaria.
How similar studies have gone: This protective interaction between influenza and malaria lung injury is a novel finding in mice, so the approach is largely untested though related immune-modulation strategies have been explored in other lung injury models.
Where this research is happening
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Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lamb, Tracey Jane — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Lamb, Tracey Jane
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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.