NIH grant: Environmental sampling for the fungal pathogen Coccidioides spp. in New Mexico (1R21AI196130-01)

retained text

NIH grant 1R21AI196130-01: Environmental sampling for the fungal pathogen Coccidioides spp. in New Mexico
Institute: {'code': 'AI', 'abbreviation': 'NIAID', 'name': 'National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases', 'admin_org_id': '12500003', 'admin_funding_url': ''}. PI: Morgan E Gorris. Award: $520223.
Start: 2026-06-19T00:00:00.
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Coccidioidomycosis (also known as Valley fever) is a fungal disease endemic to the arid and semi-arid portions of the United States. Due to its alarming health impacts, it has recently been deemed as one of the fungal diseases of highest concern by the World Health Organization. Disease cases continue to rise, causing increasing concern and warranting further understanding of this disease. Though New Mexico has been considered endemic to the disease since the 1940s, few cases are reported in the state each year, suggesting cases may be going vastly underreported. Indeed, recent epidemiologic models suggest New Mexico is likely underreporting cases, which may be a result of low disease awareness in the state or a lack of understanding what populations are at risk. Meanwhile, the neighboring state of Arizona reports the highest number of cases in the country, despite similarities in climate and ecology to New Mexico. In general, very little is known about the health burden of coccidioidomycosis and the geographical distribution of the causative fungal pathogen, Coccidioides spp., in New Mexico. Interestingly, both species of Coccidioides are likely endemic to New Mexico and hybridization of the species may occur. This, in combination with a variety of different ecosystems across the state, makes New Mexico an ideal location for studying the ecology of Coccidioides spp. The objective of our proposal is to generate preliminary data to gain a better understanding of the geographical distribution of Coccidioides spp. in New Mexico, including any regions where hybridization of the species may be occurring. To achieve this, we will collect soil samples throughout New Mexico to: (1) identify what ecosystems are conducive for the growth of Coccidioides and each Coccidioides species in New Mexico and (2) assess whether locations directly surrounding New Mexico’s five largest population centers (Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, and Roswell) are endemic to Coccidioides spp. The positive impacts of our proposal are an understanding of what populations are at risk for contracting this disease, where future disease surveillance efforts should be targeted in the state, and where future soil samples should be collected to further explore the genomics and phenotypes of Coccidioides spp. and potential for hybridization. This will help us achieve our long-term goal: to understand the ecology and endemicity of Coccidioides spp. to increase disease awareness, mitigate the negative health impacts from coccidioidomycosis, and ultimately protect the health of all Americans.

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