FIGURE 7.

Comparison of virulence in mice of virus-free isolate (LD-F1), AfPV1-infected isolate (LD-F1-b), and AfPV1- and SatRNA-infected isolate (LD-F1-a) by intratracheal injection. (A) Determination of the optimal spore concentration of A. flavus for pathogenicity testing in immunosuppressed mice inoculated with 50 μL spores of A. flavus isolate LD-F1 ranging in concentration from 10⁴, 10⁶ to 10⁸ CFU/mL. (B) Survival of mice inoculated with spores of virus-free isolate (LD-F1), AfPV1-infected isolate (LD-F1-b), and AfPV1- and SatRNA-infected isolate (LD-F1-a) over a 14 days incubation period. (C) Fungal burden in lung tissue over 7 days. (D) Histological observation at 3 days post-inoculation in lung tissue infected with the virus-free isolate (LD-F1), AfPV1-infected isolate (LD-F1-b), and AfPV1- and SatRNA-infected isolate (LD-F1-a), and the HE staining is on top, while the GMS stain is below, and the red arrows indicate hyphae growth. Control experiments are comprised of untouched mice (UTC) and saline buffer injected immunosuppressive mice (Mock). P-values were estimated using Log rank, non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn’s multiple comparison tests. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.