Understanding how hydrogen sulfide affects susceptibility to influenza A virus infection
Official title: Deciphering mechanisms of hydrogen sulfide-induced susceptibility to influenza A virus infection
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11139838 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being around hydrogen sulfide, a type of air pollution, might make it easier for people to get sick from the flu, and it’s designed for anyone interested in how air quality affects our health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | January 28, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $192,757 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI185883-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11139838 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living in areas with high levels of air pollution or those with occupational exposure to hydrogen sulfide.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have respiratory issues or are not exposed to environmental pollutants may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between exposure to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and the susceptibility to influenza A virus (IAV) infections. It aims to fill a critical knowledge gap regarding how environmental pollutants, specifically H2S, impact respiratory health and increase the severity of viral infections. The study will involve pre-exposing mice to H2S and then challenging them with IAV to observe the effects on their respiratory systems. The findings could provide insights into how air quality influences viral infections in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and management of respiratory infections in populations exposed to air pollutants.
How similar studies have gone: While the interaction between hydrogen sulfide and influenza A virus is relatively novel, previous studies have shown that environmental factors significantly influence respiratory infections.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rumbeiha, Wilson Kiiza — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Rumbeiha, Wilson Kiiza
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Creating vaccines for influenza and other infectious diseases
This study is all about creating new vaccines to help protect people from the flu and other infections, so patients can look forward to better options for staying healthy.
-
Creating vaccines for human trials against influenza and other infectious diseases
This study is working on creating new vaccines to help protect people from flu and other infectious diseases, including those that could be used in harmful situations, so that everyone can have safer and more effective options to stay healthy.
-
Understanding flu and COVID-19 vaccine responses in people and in the lab
Researchers at Stanford explore how flu and COVID-19 vaccines work in people and in lab tests to improve protection for adults.
-
Surveillance and preparedness for flu and other respiratory pathogens in Kenya
A US-based research grant aims to improve how Kenya detects and prepares for influenza and other respiratory diseases to protect people there and global health.
-
Enhanced Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Targeting Shared and Variable Viral Antigens
A new DNA-based influenza vaccine approach aims to provide both precise protection against circulating strains and broader defense against unexpected strains.
-
How the immune system responds to flu shots and flu infection
This project looks at how adults' immune systems react after flu shots or when they catch the flu to find why some people get better protection than others.
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.