How lung immune cells learn to fight fungal infections
Trained immunity and the regulation of anti-fungal defense
This project looks at how past infections change lung immune cells' ability to fight dangerous fungi that cause lung disease in people with weakened immune systems like those with AIDS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261080 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective, the team is studying how alveolar macrophages — the immune cells that live in the lungs — change after prior infections and whether that 'training' improves their ability to kill Aspergillus fumigatus and Cryptococcus neoformans. They are comparing tissue-resident alveolar macrophages with monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages to see which cell types mount stronger secondary responses. The work uses laboratory models together with human-relevant samples to track cell behavior, signals, and fungal-killing activity. The goal is to identify immune mechanisms that could be harnessed to protect people who are immunosuppressed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with weakened immune systems, especially those with advanced HIV/AIDS or others at high risk for Aspergillus or Cryptococcus lung infections, are the most relevant group.
Not a fit: People without immune suppression or those not at risk for fungal lung infections would be unlikely to benefit directly from this work in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new immune-based treatments or prevention strategies to reduce deadly lung fungal infections in immunosuppressed patients.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show trained immunity can boost some immune defenses, but applying this concept to lung macrophage subsets against these fungal pathogens is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences — Newark, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rivera, Amariliz — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Rivera, Amariliz
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.