Construction of a murine model of latent infection and reactivation induced by Talaromyces marneffei

To establish a murine model of Talaromyces marneffei (T. marneffei) latent infection and reactivation, providing a foundation for exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying disease relapse. BALB/c mice were tail vein injected with T. marneffei at 0 days post-infection (dpi) and treated with cyclophosphamide (CTX) intraperitoneally every four days, starting from 21 dpi or 42 dpi. Mice were observed for body weight changes, liver and spleen indices, histological characteristics of liver and spleen, fungal load detection in liver and spleen, and Mp1p qualitation in liver and spleen to assess T. marneffei infection severity. T. marneffei-infected mice exhibited a trend of initial weight loss followed by recovery and a subsequent decrease in weight after CTX injection throughout the observation period. Liver and spleen indices, as well as tissue damage, significantly increased during infection but later returned to normal levels, with a gradual rise observed after immunosuppression. Fungal load analysis revealed positive T. marneffei cultures in the liver and spleen at 7 dpi and 14 dpi, followed by negative T. marneffei cultures from 21 dpi until day 21 post-immunosuppression (42 dpi or 63 dpi); however, the spleen remained T. marneffei-cultured negative, consistent with the trend observed in Mp1p detection results. A latent infection and reactivation model of T. marneffei in mice was successfully established, with the liver likely serving as a key site for latent T. marneffei. •T. marneffei could be latent infected in mice.•T. marneffei could be reactivated again after immunosuppressed by cyclophosphamide.•A latent infection and reactivation model of T. marneffei in mice was established.•The liver likely serving as a key site for latent T. marneffei.