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MBio Mar 2020Environmental exposure has a significant impact on human health. While some airborne fungi can cause life-threatening infections, the impact of environment on fungal...
Environmental exposure has a significant impact on human health. While some airborne fungi can cause life-threatening infections, the impact of environment on fungal spore dispersal and transmission is poorly understood. The democratization of shotgun metagenomics allows us to explore important questions about fungal propagation. We focus on , a genus of host-specific fungi that infect mammals via airborne particles. In humans, causes lethal infections in immunocompromised patients if untreated, although its environmental reservoir and transmission route remain unclear. Here, we attempt to clarify, by analyzing human exposome metagenomic data sets, whether humans are exposed to different species present in the air but only cells are able to replicate or whether they are selectively exposed to Our analysis supports the latter hypothesis, which is consistent with a local transmission model. These data also suggest that healthy carriers are a major driver for the transmission.
Topics: Air Microbiology; DNA, Fungal; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Metagenomics; Pneumocystis carinii; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
PubMed: 32156824
DOI: 10.1128/mBio.03138-19 -
Current Medicinal Chemistry 2009Pneumocystis remains an important cause of fatal pneumonia (PCP) in HIV patients and other immunocompromised hosts. Preclinical drug discovery for agents active against... (Review)
Review
Pneumocystis remains an important cause of fatal pneumonia (PCP) in HIV patients and other immunocompromised hosts. Preclinical drug discovery for agents active against PCP has been hindered in large part by the lack of a continuous in vitro growth system. Since approval in 1978, the combination of the folic acid synthesis inhibitor combination trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole has been the primary agent for prophylaxis and therapy. Short term in vitro assays using cell monolayer-based and cell free systems in combination with in vivo studies in rodent models of infection have been the mainstay of candidate screening methods. These systems and their applications are reviewed here. Most strategies have focused on testing compounds already in clinical use, such as dapsone or atovaquone, for activity against Pneumocystis alone or in combination, and as parent compounds for chemical derivation, such as pentamidine and its analogues. Other successes from the bench include primaquine-clindamycin for moderate pneumonia and the family of Beta-glucan synthase inhibitors, which hold promise for clinical use against PCP. Despite the significant obstacles for drug discovery, progress in identifying novel agents has been made with current systems and the promise of future new targets is expected with the annotation of the Pneumocystis genome.
Topics: AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Animals; Antifungal Agents; Drug Discovery; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Life Cycle Stages; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
PubMed: 19601796
DOI: 10.2174/092986709788682038 -
Immunitat Und Infektion Sep 1986Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is a clinically, roentgenologically, and serologically uncharacteristic pneumonia of the immunodeficient patient and is caused by the... (Review)
Review
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is a clinically, roentgenologically, and serologically uncharacteristic pneumonia of the immunodeficient patient and is caused by the opportunistic parasite Pneumocystis which is most likely a protozoon. The untreated disease is lethal. The epidemiologic, clinic, and histologic features of P. carinii pneumonia are different from those of the interstitial plasmacellular pneumonia that occurred in malnourished and premature infants between 1930 and 1960 in Europe and was caused by the same organism. P. carinii is restricted to the alveoli of the lung. Material for the direct microscopic diagnosis of the parasite can be produced by bronchoalveolar lavage. The trophozoites of P. carinii are preferably stained by Giemsa stain and the cystwalls by methenamine-silver. For a reliable diagnosis both methods should be used.
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Infant; Middle Aged; Pentamidine; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Pulmonary Alveoli; Staining and Labeling; Therapeutic Irrigation
PubMed: 2429914
DOI: No ID Found -
Parasite (Paris, France) Feb 2011Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised persons, especially those with human immunodeficiency virus... (Review)
Review
Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised persons, especially those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Pneumocystis colonization is described increasingly in a wide range of immunocompromised and immunocompetent populations and associations between Pneumocystis colonization and significant pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have emerged. This mini-review summarizes recent advances in our clinical understanding of Pneumocystis and PcP, describes ongoing areas of clinical and translational research, and offers recommendations for future clinical research from researchers participating in the "First centenary of the Pneumocystis discovery".
Topics: AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Biomedical Research; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Humans; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Translational Research, Biomedical
PubMed: 21395200
DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2011181003 -
Seminars in Respiratory Infections Dec 1998Pneumocystis carinii remains an important cause of pneumonia in immunocompromised patients, particularly in those who have acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Potential... (Review)
Review
Pneumocystis carinii remains an important cause of pneumonia in immunocompromised patients, particularly in those who have acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Potential mechanisms by which P. carinii escapes elimination by lung defenses and proliferates are discussed. Evidence indicates that P. carinii attachment to alveolar epithelium is an important event in the establishment of infection and occurs through a variety of means. The binding of the organisms appears to be injurious to alveolar epithelial cells. Proliferation of the organism is associated with an ineffective and at times detrimental host inflammatory response. Additional studies indicate that P. carinii has the ability to invade tissues. Future investigations using new methodologies and strategies will be required to fully control this pathogen.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Antifungal Agents; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Prognosis; Pulmonary Alveoli; Recurrence; Risk Factors
PubMed: 9872632
DOI: No ID Found -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Oct 1988
Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan; Humans; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
PubMed: 3140952
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.297.6652.855-a -
American Journal of Respiratory Cell... Apr 1993
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HIV Medicine Apr 2001
Review
Topics: AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Antifungal Agents; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Sputum
PubMed: 11737389
DOI: 10.1046/j.1468-1293.2001.00062.x -
European Journal of Clinical... Oct 2017To understand the epidemiological significance of Pneumocystis detection in a lung tissue sample of non-immunosuppressed individuals, we examined sampling procedures,... (Review)
Review
To understand the epidemiological significance of Pneumocystis detection in a lung tissue sample of non-immunosuppressed individuals, we examined sampling procedures, laboratory methodology, and patient characteristics of autopsy series reported in the literature. Number of tissue specimens, DNA-extraction procedures, age and underlying diagnosis highly influence yield and are critical to understand yield differences of Pneumocystis among reports of pulmonary colonization in immunocompetent individuals.
Topics: Autopsy; Humans; Lung; Microbiological Techniques; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Specimen Handling
PubMed: 28584896
DOI: 10.1007/s10096-017-3006-8 -
East African Medical Journal Jan 1995Pneumocystis carinii has been increasingly recognized as an important cause of opportunistic infection in immune-deficient hosts. The prevalence of pneumocystis... (Review)
Review
Pneumocystis carinii has been increasingly recognized as an important cause of opportunistic infection in immune-deficient hosts. The prevalence of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in Africa used to be neglected and underestimated due to difficult methods of isolating the infection. In this review, the authors discuss the nature of the parasite, and methods of diagnosis.
Topics: AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Humans; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
PubMed: 7781561
DOI: No ID Found