title: Taxonomy, genetic organization, and life cycle of Pneumocystis carinii.
abstract: Pneumocystis carinii was initially misidentified as a protozoan parasite. Recent molecular and biochemical analyses provide unequivocal evidence for placement of P. carinii with the fungi, and that P. carinii is most likely an ascomycete. Genetic investigations further show that P. carinii derived from different mammalian hosts (human, rat, mouse, and ferret) exhibit considerable chromosomal and gene sequence divergence indicating that they are likely of different species. The life cycle of P. carinii has not been definitively established, but available evidence is reviewed in light of classification of this organism as a fungus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH 45267-0560, USA.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Cushion
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D051381:Rats