1. Beard CB, Fox MR, Lawrence GG, et al. Differences in Pneumocystis isolates recovered fromimmunocompetent infants and from adults with AIDS: epidemiological implications. J Infect Dis 2005; 192:1815–8. 2. Montes-Cano MA, de la Horra C, Martı́n-Juan J, et al. Pneumocystis jiroveci genotypes in the Spanish population. Clin Infect Dis 2004; 39: 123–8. 3. Beard CB, Carter JL, Keely SP, et al. Gene...

Although T cells are critical for host defense against respiratory fungal infections, they also contribute to the immunopathogenesis of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP). However, the precise downstream effector mechanisms by which T cells mediate these diverse processes are undefined. In the current study the effects of immune modulation with sulfasalazine were evaluated in a mouse model of PcP-rel...

The immune response protects against Pneumocystis infection but is also a key component of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP)-related immunopathogenesis. Signaling through myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) is critical for activation of immune pathways downstream of TLRs and IL-1R. To determine whether MyD88 regulates normal host defense against Pneumocystis, nonimmunosuppressed wild-type (WT)...

It has been suggested that patients with pulmonary surfactant impairment are more susceptible to Pneumocystis infection than healthy controls. Owing the fact that most patients with pulmonary surfactant impairment also suffer from hypoxia, we explored the effect of intermittent hypobaric hypoxia conditions on the ability of non-immunocompromised rats infected by endotracheal route with P. carin...

Pneumocystis jirovecii is a major cause of life-threatening pneumonia in immunosuppressed patients including transplant recipients and those with HIV/AIDS, yet surprisingly little is known about the biology of this fungal pathogen. Here we report near complete genome assemblies for three Pneumocystis species that infect humans, rats and mice. Pneumocystis genomes are highly compact relative to ...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this essay is to review the spectrum of high-resolution CT findings of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in immunocompromised patients with and without HIV infection. CONCLUSION Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia is a common opportunistic infection affecting immunosuppressed patients. High-resolution CT may be indicated for evaluation of immunosuppressed patients with susp...

To better understand the diffusion of Pneumocystis in the environment, airborne shedding of Pneumocystis carinii in the surrounding air of experimentally infected rats was quantified by means of a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay, in parallel with the kinetics of P. carinii loads in their lungs. P. carinii DNA was detected in the air 1 week after infection and increased until 4-5 weeks...

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) occurs frequently in individuals infected with the HIV virus. Malignancy, immunosuppressive drugs, and congenital immune deficiency may be associated with PCP. We describe a patient with stage 1 testicular carcinoma who developed hypoxemic respiratory failure two days after retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Pneumocystis carinii organisms were demonstrat...

This is a retrospective review of patients admitted to an inner city community hospital with community-acquired pneumonia who were ultimately diagnosed with AIDS and Pneumocystis. Absolute lymphocyte count in our hospital is available immediately. In contrast, it can take 48 hours or longer to obtain more specific CD-4 counts and AIDS enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) serology. The asso...

BACKGROUND Pneumocystis jirovecii, formerly named Pneumocystis carinii, is one of the most common opportunistic infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. CASE PRESENTATIONS We encountered two cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum with subcutaneous emphysema in HIV-infected patients being treated for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole...