New fungal partner targets to curb Aspergillus infection in vulnerable patients
Official title: Novel host-adaptation mechanisms regulating Aspergillus pathogenic fitness
Funded at University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr · NIH-11450004 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A NIH-funded project is exploring how the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus grows and causes serious infections in people with weakened immune systems, with the aim of finding new ways to stop it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | July 22, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $678,934 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI195581-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450004 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with invasive aspergillosis or those at high risk (e.g., immunocompromised) who could benefit from novel antifungal approaches.
✕Less likely to help
People without Aspergillus infections or those unlikely to respond to new targets may not receive a direct benefit.
What this research studies
This grant studies the biology of A. fumigatus to identify how it adapts to different body environments and continues to invade tissues. Researchers have found that a specific fungal gene, cotA, may be critical for invasive growth, suggesting new targets for therapy. The work combines lab experiments that mimic the lung environment with tests in mice to see if blocking these targets reduces disease. If successful, the findings could lead to novel treatments that are different from current antifungals and help high-risk patients. The project is led by Jarrod R. Fortwendel at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and involves collaboration across fungal biology and infection research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new treatments that limit invasive Aspergillus infections in immunocompromised people.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has linked CotA-like kinases to reduced fungal growth, supporting the potential of this approach but human-targeted therapies are still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
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University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fortwendel, Jarrod R. — University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Fortwendel, Jarrod R.
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.