title: Development and characterization of a molecular viability assay for Pneumocystis carinii f sp hominis.
abstract: Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) remains the most common opportunistic infection among human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons. Despite this, little is known concerning the transmission dynamics of this infection. In the absence of a reliable method to isolate and culture P. carinii from environmental samples, it has not been possible to assess the importance of person-to-person transmission in the epidemiology of PCP. A molecular viability assay was developed for the human form of P. carinii (P. carinii f sp hominis) that is applicable to both clinical specimens and environmental samples. This assay will enable the evaluation of the spread and persistence of viable human P. carinii in the environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-2170, USA.
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Vermund
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Dillon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Awooda
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Unnasch
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S