How the Valley fever fungus changes form and evades the immune system
Fungal Virulence: Identifying the factors that control virulence and the growth in parasitic form of Coccidioides
Researchers are finding the fungal genes and proteins that let the Valley fever fungus switch into its disease-causing form and hide from the immune system to help people affected by coccidioidomycosis.
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-11247128 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Scientists will study Coccidioides, the fungus that causes Valley fever, by comparing its soil mycelial form to the spherule form it makes inside animals. They will use large-scale gene-expression (transcriptomic) and protein (proteomic) methods plus genome-wide analyses to see which genes and proteins are active in each form. The team will apply functional genomics to identify regulators needed for spherule and endospore growth and will test key fungal genes in mouse models that differ in susceptibility. The project will also map secreted, surface-attached, and GPI-anchored proteins that could explain how the fungus survives and evades the host immune response.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) or who live in endemic areas such as Arizona and California and want to follow research toward better care.
Not a fit: People with infections or conditions unrelated to Coccidioides are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal targets for new diagnostics, vaccines, or treatments for Valley fever.
How similar studies have performed: Genomics and proteomics have identified virulence factors in other fungi, but targeting spherule-specific mechanisms in Coccidioides is relatively new and not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Beyhan, Sinem — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Beyhan, Sinem
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.