Open AccessIV. Potential impact of Pneumocystis genetic diversity on the molecular detection of the parasite in human host
Author(s) -
Tamburrini Enrica,
Mencarini Paola,
Visconti Elena,
Zolfo Maria,
Marinaci Salvatore,
Zinzi Daniela,
Margutti Paola,
Ortona Elena,
Siracusano Alessandra
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1998.tb01185.x
Subject(s) - pneumocystis carinii , biology , sputum , bronchoalveolar lavage , genetic diversity , polymerase chain reaction , parasite hosting , host (biology) , molecular diagnostics , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , gene , genetics , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , pathology , population , tuberculosis , medicine , lung , environmental health , world wide web , computer science , pneumocystis jirovecii
Our aim was to evaluate if genetic diversity of Pneumocystis carinii could influence the detection by molecular techniques in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids and in non‐invasive specimens (induced sputum, oropharyngeal washing and serum/blood). P. carinii is morphologically similar in different hosts although several strains have been identified by biomolecular techniques. Variations of mt‐LSU and ITSs sequences could determine a lack of hybridization of some clinical samples and could have diagnostic consequences with loss in sensitivity and specificity of available molecular tests, but at the moment no data support a significant impact of genetic diversity in these sequences on molecular detection of P. carinii for clinical purposes.