Role of human NK cells in fighting Coccidioides in the lungs
Official title: Role of human NK cells in the immune response to Coccidioides
Funded at Northern California Institute/res/edu · NIH-11572347 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how natural killer (NK) cells help the lungs respond to Coccidioides infection in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northern California Institute/res/edu NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $712,977 |
| NIH project number | 1R56AI189590-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11572347 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with suspected or confirmed Coccidioides infection or those at risk for exposure in endemic regions may ultimately benefit from improved diagnostics or therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals with no exposure or disease are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers will map how the lung’s early immune response forms around Coccidioides infections at the level of individual cells and test how human lung tissue responds to the fungus. They will examine NK cell interactions with fungal components, using methods to block or modify NK receptors and to create fungal mutants, all in human-derived samples. The goal is to reveal how NK cells contribute to controlling the infection and to identify targets for therapies that could boost protective immune responses. This work combines patient-derived tissue analysis with controlled lab experiments using human cells to better understand disease progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could guide new ways to boost innate immunity against Coccidioides and improve outcomes for patients with coccidioidomycosis.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests NK cells can inhibit fungal growth, supporting the plausibility of this approach, though this exact focus is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Northern California Institute/res/edu
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rustagi, Arjun — Northern California Institute/res/edu
- Study coordinator: Rustagi, Arjun
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.