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The dimorphic fungus Talaromyces marneffei: An opportunistic killer in Southeast Asia

Summary

Talaromyces marneffei is a dangerous fungus found in Southeast Asian soils that causes serious lung infections when people breathe in its spores. The fungus has a clever trick: it transforms into different forms depending on temperature and hides inside immune cells by tricking them. People with weak immune systems, particularly those with advanced HIV/AIDS or certain genetic conditions, are most vulnerable to severe disease.

Background

Talaromyces marneffei is a dimorphic fungus causing talaromycosis, a life-threatening fungal disease that is the leading opportunistic infection in Southeast Asia. The disease is acquired through inhalation of T. marneffei conidia from soil environments associated with bamboo rats, with hotspots identified in highland regions of Southeast Asia.

Objective

This Pearls review summarizes current understanding of talaromycosis pathogenesis and highlights key research gaps in knowledge about T. marneffei infection mechanisms, immune responses, and clinical management.

Results

The review identifies thermal dimorphism as a key virulence factor, describes how T. marneffei evades macrophage-mediated immunity through multiple mechanisms, and highlights the importance of Th1 cellular immunity and humoral IgG responses in disease control.

Conclusion

Significant research gaps remain regarding immune mechanisms, melanin’s role in pathogenesis, potential cryptic sexual cycles, optimal animal models, and geographical variation in disease severity, all requiring further investigation.
  • Published in:PLoS Pathogens,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 40929107, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1013444
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