Understanding how the St. Louis encephalitis virus spreads and survives
Official title: Transmission dynamics and fitness of reemerging St. Louis encephalitis virus
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-10880542 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into how the St. Louis encephalitis virus, which can make people very sick, is coming back in California and Arizona, and it aims to understand how it spreads between mosquitoes and birds to help keep everyone safe.
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 | July 3, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $201,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI176187-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10880542 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research include individuals living in areas with known SLEV activity, particularly in California and Arizona.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who live in regions where SLEV is not present or who are not at risk of mosquito exposure may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), a mosquito-borne pathogen that can cause serious illness, including encephalitis. The study focuses on how SLEV has reemerged in California and Arizona, examining the virus's infectivity and transmissibility in both mosquito and bird populations. By analyzing the genetic differences between historical and contemporary strains of SLEV, the research aims to identify factors that contribute to its resurgence and spread. This could involve studying the interactions between the virus and its mosquito vectors, particularly the Culex species, to understand how these dynamics affect human health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better prevention strategies and public health responses to SLEV outbreaks, ultimately reducing the incidence of related illnesses in humans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research on the West Nile virus has shown success in understanding its transmission dynamics, suggesting that similar approaches may yield valuable insights for SLEV.
Where this research is happening
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University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Coffey, Lark L — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Coffey, Lark L
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.