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Development of immunotherapeutic strategies and vaccines against multidrug resistant C. auris disseminated infection

Award Number: R21AI168929
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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Development of immunotherapeutic strategies and vaccines against multidrug resistant C. auris disseminated infection - Development of immunotherapeutic strategies and vaccines against multidrug resistant C. auris disseminated infection PROJECT SUMMARY Disseminated candidiasis is a life-threatening disease and remains the third most common bloodstream infection in hospitalized patients in the United States, with a mortality of 40-60%. Particularly, Candida auris is a multi- drug resistant, health care-associated fungal pathogen, and has recently emerged as the first fungal pathogen to cause a global public health threat. There are no effective vaccines for Candida infection or indeed for any fungi, and significant therapeutic challenges remain. Current anti-Candida treatments are plagued by significant toxicity and poor efficacy, especially in immunocompromised patients for treating drug resistant Candida species. Thus, there is a pressing and urgent need for new treatment options. A therapeutic vaccine could bolster both the protective TH1-mediated immune response and induce protective antibodies, thereby slowing or halting the progression of dissemination, as well as recurrent in future. Our prior work in mice has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy of a double peptide vaccine in the acute phase of Candida invasive infection evidenced by significantly reduction in organ fungal burdens, as well as prolonged survival. This work is a stride towards the development of a therapeutic C. auris vaccine that seeks to prevent or reduce the mortality in patients infected with C. auris. This is the first study that demonstrates therapeutic efficacy of a synthetic peptide vaccine in a mouse model of C. auris disseminated infection. Our ultimate goals are to develop the first therapeutic double-peptide vaccine composed of peptides that have high homology in all the medically significant Candida species including C. auris, and to elucidate protective mechanisms against disseminated candidiasis. In Aim 1, we will seek to investigate whether our double peptide vaccines could be effective in already established C. auris invasive infection. In Aim 2, we will evaluate the potential of peptide vaccine candidates serve as immunotherapeutic adjuncts to antibiotic treatment regimens for C. auris disseminated infection. We will further determine the protective efficacy of the therapeutic peptide vaccine in immunocompromised mouse models of C. auris invasive infection.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = -$16,143 )
2025	2023	LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER NEW ORLEANS	433 BOLIVAR ST RM 619	NEW ORLEANS	LA	70112	ORLEANS	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	4/14/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$16,143
														Subtotal = -$16,143

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $183,750 )
2023	2023	LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER-NEW ORLEANS	433 BOLIVAR ST STE 815	NEW ORLEANS	LA	70112	ORLEANS	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	11/29/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$183,750
2023	2023	LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER-NEW ORLEANS	433 BOLIVAR ST STE 815	NEW ORLEANS	LA	70112	ORLEANS	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	2	6/2/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $183,750

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $220,500 )
2022	2022	LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM	433 BOLIVAR ST STE 815	NEW ORLEANS	LA	70112	ORLEANS	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	1/24/2022	NEW	$220,500
														Subtotal = $220,500

Grand Total All Awards = $388,107

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Development of immunotherapeutic strategies and vaccines against multidrug resistant C. auris disseminated infection

Award Number: R21AI168929

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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