# Tropical Medicine Research Center for Talaromycosis in Vietnam

> **NIH NIH U01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $167,028

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Talaromycosis is an invasive mycosis caused by a dimorphic fungus Talaromyces marneffei that is endemic in
Southeast Asia. Infection kills one in three infected people with a compromised immune system. Despite the
high morbidity and mortality in a region encompassing half of the world population, fundamental knowledge of
disease burden and reservoir are lacking. Current diagnosis relies on decade-old culture methods which lacks
sensitivity and takes 14 days for identification, leading to treatment delays and higher mortality. Over the last
decade our talaromycosis research program in Vietnam has made landmark contributions to our knowledge of
epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. We have established an extensive network of collaborators in Vietnam
and in Southeast Asia and have a pipeline of novel non-culture diagnostics to advance diagnostic modalities and
knowledge of disease reservoir and transmission to humans. We believe we are in the best position to lead a
Tropical Medicine Research Center in Talaromycosis through an integrated program of research and capacity
development. We propose the following specific aims:
AIM 1. To determine the diagnostic accuracy of a real-time PCR assay and 4 novel antigen detection
assays in late stage of development for rapid diagnosis of talaromycosis. Here we will leverage whole
blood, sera, urine samples collected from an ongoing NIH-funded talaromycosis cohort (35HN, N=1,400) to
compare diagnostic performance of 5 non-culture assays for rapid diagnosis.
AIM 2. To determine the differential host transcriptomic signatures that differentiate talaromycosis from
other opportunistic infections. Here we will leverage whole blood samples collected in PAXgene tubes from
the 35HN talaromycosis cohort to identify transcriptional signatures that differentiate talaromycosis from other
oportunistic infections. Our goal is to identify a gene set unique to talaromycosis that can be developed into a
point-of-care diagnostic test.
AIM 3. To determine the epidemiological link between human disease and airborne exposure and the
potential for Tm to cause a primary pulmonary infection in humans. Here, we will conduct an integrated
community-based seroprevalence and air sampling study and compare the burden of Tm isolated from the air
and Tm IgG in the blood of 300 adults living in high-risk highland provinces and 300 adults living in low-risk
lowland provinces. In each geographic group, we will recruit 150 adults with and 150 without respiratory
symptoms to determine the potential for Tm to cause a primary pulmonary infection by testing for Tm IgM and
IgG levels at enrolment and at time of seroconversion.
Impact statement. These studies aim to validate multiple non-culture diagnostics for talaromycosis and develop
pathways for their clinical and public health applications. The community-based seroprevalence and air sampling
studies have the potential to advance our understanding of disease reservoir and airborne trans...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10810785
- **Project number:** 5U01AI169358-03
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Thuy Le
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $167,028
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2027-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10810785

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10810785, Tropical Medicine Research Center for Talaromycosis in Vietnam (5U01AI169358-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10810785. Licensed CC0.

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