How people’s immune genes and fungal traits influence Valley fever and its severe forms
Host Immunogenetics and Fungal Virulence Mechanisms in Coccidioidomycosis
Looking at how a person’s immune genes and features of the Coccidioides fungus relate to mild Valley fever versus dangerous disseminated infection, to help people in areas where Valley fever is common.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247114 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This program brings together clinicians and lab scientists to link patient blood and clinical data with detailed lab studies of both patient immune responses and the fungal strains that cause infection. Researchers will collect samples from people with recent or past Valley fever, profile innate and adaptive immune cells, sequence immune-related genes, and study fungal virulence traits in the laboratory. Computational teams will integrate genetic, immune, and fungal data to find patterns that predict who develops severe, disseminated disease. The goal is to turn those findings into better tests, risk predictions, and possible targets for new treatments or prevention strategies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living in Valley fever–endemic areas (for example, parts of California and Arizona) who have current or past Coccidioides infection—especially those with severe or disseminated disease or a family history—are the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People without Coccidioides exposure or with other unrelated infections are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to tests that identify people at high risk of dangerous Valley fever and to new ways to prevent or treat severe infections.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has linked certain immune defects and genetic variants to disseminated coccidioidomycosis, but this large multi-disciplinary approach combining human genetics, immune profiling, and fungal virulence is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Butte, Manish J — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Butte, Manish J
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.