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Molecular Biology of Pneumocystis Carinii and its Clinical Application

Research Project

Project/Area Number 02454175
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Research Field 細菌学
Research InstitutionThe Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo

Principal Investigator

NAKAMURA Yoshikazu  Institute of Medical Science, Associate, 医科学研究所, 助教授 (40114590)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) EGAWA Kohji  Institute of Medical Science, Professor, 医科学研究所, 教授 (00012724)
Project Period (FY) 1990 – 1991
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1991)
Budget Amount *help
¥6,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,200,000)
Fiscal Year 1991: ¥1,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000)
Fiscal Year 1990: ¥4,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,800,000)
KeywordsPneumocystis carinii / pneumonia / AIDS / opportunistic infection / polymerase chain reaction / DNA diagnosis / 5S ribosomal RNA / surface antigen / モノクロ-ナル抗体 / 遺伝子クロ-ニング / 予防・治療
Research Abstract

Pneumocystis carinii is an opportunistic pathogen which often causes fatal pneumonia in patients under immunosuppressed or immune deficient conditions due to AIDS, cancer chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy for organ transplantation. P. carinii is a eukaryotic microorganism and infects many mammalian hosts. Continuous in vitro culture of P. carinii has not been established and thereby the difficulty of mass cultivation impedes progress in the study of this organism. Nonetheless, it is necessary to pursue molecular approaches to P. carinii studies.
1. Surface Glycoproteins. The major surface immunodeterminants of P. carinii is a group of proteins called P115. They are composed of six major isoelectric variants and highly glycosylated with mannose. The frequent generation of anti-Pll5 monoclonal antibodies implicates a strong antigenic activity of these molecules. Deglycosylation analysis revealed that the sugar moiety of P115 plays a crucial role in the antigenic activity.
2. PI 15 … More cDNA Cloning. P. carinii cDNA library was constructed using lambdagtll vector. The library was screened with antibodies against the P115 protein moiety, and 40 positive clones were isolated. Nucleotide sequence analyses revealed that they were classified to at least three similar but not identical groups. They share the same epitope site to monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, rabbit polyclonal antibodies raised against one of these cDNA-lacZ fusion proteins reacted with the intact P115 molecules. Therefore, we were convinced of our cloning of P115 cDNA. The observed heterogeneity in the cDNA structure might reflect heterogeneity in P. carinii organisms or variability of the surface structure as found in other parasitic protozoa.
3. Diagnosis with Polymerase Chain Reaction. We have successfully utilized the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to detect P. carinii organisms by amplifying the 5S RDNA sequence in various clinical and animal samples. The detection was highly sensitive and specific. Extensive trials manifested efficacy of the PCR method in sputum samples from patients who suffered from pneumonia. The PCR-positive patients were then administered daily with pentamidine or sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and were monitored by the PCR assay. These trials demonstrated the efficacy of applying PCR to the monitoring of therapy to P. carinii pneumonia. _ Less

Report

(3 results)
  • 1991 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 1990 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (17 results)

All Other

All Publications (17 results)

  • [Publications] Kitada,K.: "Detection of Pneumocystis carinii sequences by polymerase chain reaction:animal models and clinical application to noninvasive specimens" J.Clin.Microbiol.29. 1985-1990 (1991)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Kitada,K.: "Diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia by 5S ribosomal DNA amplification" J.Protozool.(1992)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Nakamura,Y.: "Epitope study and cDNA screening of major surface qlycoprotein of Pneumocystis carinii" J.Protozool.(1992)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Kitada,K.: "A novel therapeutic marker of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia:monitoring by the polymerase chain reaction of shedding in sputum" Chest.

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 中村 義一: "ニュ-モシスチス・カリニの分子生物学とその臨床応用" 寄生虫学雑誌. 40. 339-343 (1991)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 中村 義一: "分子系統樹からみたニュ-モシスチス・カリニの分類学と臨床診断への応用" 感染症. 21. 143-147 (1991)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Kitada, K. et al.: "Detection of Pneumocystis Carinii Sequences by Polymerase Chain Reaction : Animal Modesl and Clinical Application to Noninvasive Specimens" J. Clin. Microbiol.29. 1985-1990 (1991)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Kitada, K. et al.: "Diagnosis of Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia by S Ribosomal DNA Amplification" J. Protozool.38. 90S-91S (1991)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Nakamura, Y. et al.: "Epitope Study and cDNA Screening of Major Surface Glycoprotein of Pneumocystis Carinii" J. Protozool.38. 3S-4S (1991)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] A Novel Therapeutic Marker of Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia: "Monitoring by the Polymerase Chain Reaction of Shedding in Sputum" Chest.

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Kitada,K.: "Detection of Pneumocystis carinii sequences by polymerase chain reaction:1 animal models and clinical application to noninvasive specimens" J.Clin.Microbiol.29. 1985-1990 (1991)

    • Related Report
      1991 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Kitada,K.: "Diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia by 5S ribosomal RNA amplification" J.Protozool.(1992)

    • Related Report
      1991 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Nakamura,Y.: "Epitope study and cDNA screening of major surface glycoprotein of Pneumocystis carinii" J.Protozool.(1992)

    • Related Report
      1991 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Kitada,K.: "A novel therapeutic marker of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia:monitoring by the polymerase chain reaction of shedding in sputum" Chest 投稿予定.

    • Related Report
      1991 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 中村 義一: "ニュ-モシスチス・カリニの分子生物学とその臨床応用" 奇生虫学雑誌. 40. 339-343 (1991)

    • Related Report
      1991 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 中村 義一: "分子系統樹からみたニュ-モシスチス・カリニの分類学と臨床診断への応用" 感染症. 21. 143-147 (1991)

    • Related Report
      1991 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Kitada,K.: "Detection of <Pneumocystis>___ー <carinii>___ー sequences by polymerase chain reaction:animal models and clinical application to noninvasive specimens" Journal of Infectious Diseases.

    • Related Report
      1990 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1990-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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