How the immune system responds to Valley Fever (Coccidioides)
Molecular and cellular analysis of host response to Cocci
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · NIH-11257667
Researchers are using advanced lab methods to learn how people's immune systems react to Valley Fever so care for lung and brain infections can improve.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11257667 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If I join, researchers will analyze my blood and, when available, lung nodule tissue to see how immune cells respond to Coccidioides. They will use single-cell RNA sequencing, mass cytometry, transcriptomics, and phage display to profile immune cells and antibodies. Laboratory macrophage infection models will be compared with patient samples to find patterns linked to mild versus severe disease. Most patient samples will come from people in California's Valley Fever endemic areas and from clinical procedures like biopsies when clinically indicated.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with confirmed Coccidioides (Valley Fever) infection—especially those with lung nodules or disseminated/CNS disease and those in or near endemic regions—are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without Valley Fever, those with very mild self-limited infections, or individuals unwilling or unable to provide blood or tissue samples likely would not directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to better tests, vaccines, or targeted treatments to prevent or treat severe Valley Fever, including infections that spread to the brain.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell and mass cytometry approaches have provided new insights in other infections, but applying them with phage display to Coccidioides lung nodule samples is a relatively new approach.
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.
Conditions: CNS Diseases, CNS disorder