valley fever vaccine

The **valley fever vaccine** is a live attenuated vaccine candidate in development to prevent coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever), a fungal infection caused by *Coccidioides posadasii* or *C. immitis*, inhaled via spores in endemic areas like Arizona. It is based on a *C. posadasii* strain genetically engineered by deleting the **CPS1** gene, rendering it avirulent while eliciting protective Th1 and Th2 immune responses, as demonstrated in mouse models and advancing canine trials. Discovered by researchers at the University of Arizona including Marc Orbach, Lisa Shubitz, and John Galgiani, the technology was licensed to Anivive Lifesciences, which received NIH/NIAID funding to adapt it for humans, targeting Phase 1 trials after canine USDA approval.[1][2][6][8]

Other names

coccidioidomycosis vaccine