Award
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 5U19AI166058-05
Early in vivo Expressed Antigens and their Role in Virulence, Immune Response, and Vaccines for Coccidioidomycosis
Recipient
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States
Award Amount
$1,451,607.00
Ceiling
$1,451,607.00
Awarded
July 17, 2026
Identifier
5U19AI166058-05
Research project funded by NIAID to study immune responses and develop vaccines for Valley Fever using advanced genetic and immunological techniques.
Description
This project aims to define immune response changes in humans and animals to Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis), utilizing gene expression patterns during early infection stages. It involves gene knockouts using CRISPR-Cas9, virulence testing in wax worm and mouse models, development of a non-human primate model, T cell receptor sequencing to identify immune signatures and candidate antigens for vaccine development, and the development of nucleic acid-based vaccines (RNA and DNA) with effective delivery methods and immune mechanisms of protection.