Conserved sequence homology of cysteine-rich regions in genes encoding glycoprotein A in Pneumocystis carinii derived from different host species

Immunization with Pneumocystis Cross-Reactive Antigen 1 (Pca1) Protects Mice against Pneumocystis Pneumonia and Generates Antibody to Pneumocystis jirovecii

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) is a life-threatening infection that affects immunocompromised individuals. Nearly half of all PcP cases occur in those prescribed effective chemoprophylaxis, suggesting that additional preventive methods are needed. To this end, we have identified a unique mouse Pneumocystis surface protein, designated Pneumocystis cross-reactive antigen 1 (Pca1), as a potential vaccine candidate. Mice were immunized with a recombinant fusion protein containing Pca1. Subsequently, CD4⁺ T cells were depleted, and the mice were exposed to Pneumocystis murina Pca1 immunization completely protected nearly all mice, similar to immunization with whole Pneumocystis organisms. In contrast, all immunized negative-control mice developed PcP. Unexpectedly, Pca1 immunization generated cross-reactive antibody that recognized Pneumocystis jirovecii and Pneumocystis carinii Potential orthologs of Pca1 have been identified in P. jirovecii Such cross-reactivity is rare, and our findings suggest that Pca1 is a conserved antigen and potential vaccine target. The evaluation of Pca1-elicited antibodies in the prevention of PcP in humans deserves further investigation.

Pneumocystis murina MSG gene family and the structure of the locus associated with its transcription

Analysis of the Pneumocystis murina MSG gene family and expression-site locus showed that, as in Pneumocystis carinii, P. murina MSG genes are arranged in head-to-tail tandem arrays located on multiple chromosomes, and that a variety of MSG genes can reside at the unique P. murina expression site. Located between the P. murina expression site and attached MSG gene is a block of 132 basepairs that is also present at the beginning of MSG genes that are not at the expression site. The center of this sequence block resembles the 28 basepair CRJE of P. carinii, but the block of conserved sequence in P. murina is nearly five times longer than in P. carinii, and much shorter than in P. wakefieldiae. These data indicate that the P. murina expression-site locus has a distinct structure.

Pneumocystis

Pneumocystis organisms can cause pneumonia in mammals that lack a strong immune defense. The genus Pneumocystis contains many different organisms that can be distinguished by DNA sequence analysis. These different organisms are different species of yeast-like fungi that are most closely related to the ascomycete, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Each species of Pneumocystis appears to be specific for the mammal in which it is found. The species that infects humans is Pneumocystis jiroveci. P. jiroveci has not been found in any other mammal and the species of Pneumocystis found in other mammals have not been seen in humans. Genetic variation among P. jiroveci samples is common, suggesting that there are many strains. Strain analysis shows that adults can be infected by more than one strain, and suggests that pneumonia can be the result of infection occurring proximal to the time of disease, rather than to reactivation of dormant organisms acquired in early childhood. Nevertheless, long-term colonisation may be occurring. A large fraction of normal children and animals show evidence of infection. A Pneumocystis species that grows in rats has been shown to possess a complex genetic system for surface antigen variation, a strategy employed by other microbes that dwell in immunocompetent hosts. These findings, together with strong host specificity, suggest that Pneumocystis species may be obligate parasites. The source of infection is not clear. Pneumocystis DNA is detectable in the air, but is scarce except in environments occupied by individuals with Pneumocystis pneumonia. In a few cases, there is direct evidence of person to person transmission. In general, however, patients and their contacts have been found to have different strains of P. jiroveci.

Functional glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor signal sequences in the Pneumocystis carinii PRT1 protease family

Pneumocystis carinii is fungus which is a frequent cause of severe pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals. The P. carinii genome contains the PRT1 subtelomeric multigene family that encodes a kexin-like serine protease which is expressed on the surface of P. carinii. Analysis of the sequence of the carboxy-terminal sequence of many copies of PRT1 showed that they contained motifs characteristic of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor signal sequence. The ability of the C-terminal sequences of PRT1 to direct the addition of a GPI anchor was tested. CD14, a GPI-anchored monocyte glycoprotein antigen, was used as the basis of a heterologous system. CD14 was truncated to remove the carboxy-terminal sequences responsible for GPI-anchor addition. Addition of carboxy-terminal sequences from PRT1 restored high-level surface expression to the truncated CD14. Further, the majority of CD14-PRT1 recombinant protein was removed from the cell membrane by treatment with GPI-specific phospholipase C. These results suggest that the carboxy-terminal residues of most of the members of the PRT1 family of proteases have the potential to form a functional GPI-attachment signal.

Internal transcribed spacer regions of rRNA genes of Pneumocystis carinii from monkeys

Analysis of sequence variations among isolates of Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. macacae from 14 Indian rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) at the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the nuclear rRNA gene was undertaken. Like those from P. carinii f. sp. hominis, the ITS sequences from various P. carinii f. sp. macacae isolates were not identical. Two major types of sequences were found. One type of sequence was shared by 13 isolates. These 13 sequences were homologous but not identical. Variations were found at 13 of the 180 positions in the ITS1 region and 28 of the 221 positions in the ITS2 region. These sequence variations were not random but exhibited definite patterns when the sequences were aligned. According to this sequence variation, ITS1 sequences were classified into three types and ITS2 sequences were classified into five types. The remaining specimen had ITS1 and ITS2 sequences substantially different from the others. Although some specimens had the same ITS1 or ITS2 sequence, all 14 samples exhibited a unique whole ITS sequence (ITS1 plus ITS2). The 5.8S rRNA gene sequences were also analyzed, and only two types of sequences that differ by only one base were found. Unlike P. carinii f. sp. hominis infections in humans, none of the monkey lung specimens examined in this study were found to be infected by more than one type of P. carinii f. sp. macacae. These results offer insights into the genetic differences between P. carinii organisms which infect distinct species.

Major surface glycoprotein genes from Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. ratti

Pneumocystis carinii occurs in a variety of mammals, each of which harbors one or more genetically distinct "special forms" of the microbe. Laboratory rats can be infected by two special forms, P. carinii f. sp. ratti and P. carinii f. sp. carinii. P. carinii f. sp. carinii has a variable antigen, the major surface glycoprotein (MSG), the expression of which is controlled by genetic recombination. Recombination may involve the CRJE, a 23-bp DNA sequence element invariant among P. carinii f. sp. carinii MSG genes. To better understand the role of the CRJE in MSG gene expression and to explore the possible role of MSG in P. carinii infection in rats, P. carinii f. sp. ratti MSG genes were studied. These genes were found to be related to MSG genes of P. carinii f. sp. carinii, but less so than MSG genes from P. carinii f. sp. carinii are to each other. P. carinii f. sp. ratti MSG genes were present throughout the genome and were expressed as an abundant mRNA species slightly smaller than that found in P. carinii f. sp. carinii. P. carinii f. sp. ratti MSG transcripts included a CRJE-like sequence only 78% identical to the CRJE of P. carinii f. sp. carinii. Comparison of MSG proteins from the two rat special forms of P. carinii to those from human, ferret, and mouse P. carinii did not support the hypothesis that growth in the rat lung requires certain primary MSG peptide sequences.

Cell surface protease PRT1 identified in the fungal pathogen Pneumocystis carinii

The subtelomeric regions of the chromosomes of many organisms contain gene families that allow adaptation to a changing environment. In a number of parasites, these subtelomeric gene families encode cell surface proteins that undergo antigenic variation. Proteases are another important virulence determinant in pathogenic microorganisms. We report the localization of the PRT1 protease of the pathogenic fungus Pneumocystis carinii sp. f. carinii, encoded by a subtelomeric gene family, to the cell surface of both the trophozoite and the cyst phase of the organism. Using anti-PRT1 antiserum, we demonstrated specificity to P. carinii sp. f. carinii in sections of infected rat lungs and, using immunofluorescence, we showed that the PRT1 protease has the characteristic distribution of a surface protein. The anti-PRT1 antiserum showed cross-reactivity with a number of P. carinii sp. f. carinii proteins migrating between 185 kDa and 28 kDa, the majority migrating between 42 kDa and 52 kDa, a region that has been shown by serological studies to contain important immunodominant P. carinii proteins. Cross-reactivity was also observed with P. carinii sp. f. hominis proteins. We have also cloned a portion of the catalytic domain of PRT1 from P. carinii sp. f. hominis, P. carinii sp. f. muris and P. carinii sp. f. rattus. Our data suggest that the PRT1 protease plays an important role in the pathogenicity of P. carinii.

The carboxyl terminus of Pneumocystis carinii glycoprotein A encodes a functional glycosylphosphatidylinositol signal sequence

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is a hallmark disease associated with AIDS. An abundant glycoprotein, termed gpA, on the surface of P. carinii is considered an important factor in host-parasite interactions. The primary structure of ferret P. carinii gpA contains a carboxyl-terminal sequence characteristic of a signal for glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors. Here we report the capacity for this gpA carboxyl sequence to direct attachment of a secreted protein, human growth hormone (hGH), to the membranes of COS cells. A control fusion protein (hGHDAF37) was obtained which, under the direction of the GPI signal from decay accelerating factor, directs hGH cell surface expression. A construct (phGH2-1A30) was created similar to hGHDAF37 by fusing hGH to the putative GPI signal sequence encoded in the terminal 30 residues from a ferret P. carinii gpA cDNA clone. By indirect immunofluorescent staining, hGH was detected on the surface of COS cells transfected with phGH2-1A30; this surface location was confirmed by confocal laser cytometry. Metabolic labeling with [3H]ethanolamine and subsequent immunopurification of hGH from cells transfected with phGH2-1A30 confirmed that a lipid moiety characteristic of a conventional GPI anchor was linked covalently to hGH, and cell surface hGH2-1A30 fusion protein was sensitive to enzymatic cleavage by phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C. Furthermore, hGH2-1A30 recombinant protein cofractionated with 5'-nucleotidase, a classical GPI-anchored membrane marker. Together, these results indicate that the carboxyl-terminal residues of ferret P. carinii gpA constitute a biologically functional GPI consensus domain, thus providing a potential mechanism for antigenic variation of P. carinii gpA during P. carinii pneumonia.

The genome of Pneumocystis carinii

The best understood special form of P. carinii, P. carinii formae specialis (f.sp.) carinii, appears to be haploid and contains about 8 million base pairs of DNA (8.5 fg) per nucleus. The genome of P. carinii f.sp. carinii is divided into 13-15 linear chromosomes that range from 300 to 700 kb in size. Eight different P. carinii f.sp. carinii karyotypes have been observed. The karyotypes of P. carinii f.sp. carinii differ due to slight variations in the lengths of chromosomes, but the 8 karyotype-forms of P. carinii f.sp. carinii exhibit very little variation in DNA sequence. By contrast, the genome of P. carinii f.sp. carinii differs markedly in sequence from the genomes of P. carinii from other hosts, such as mouse, ferret and human. In addition, chromosomes and DNA sequences from P. carinii from mouse, ferret, and human also differ greatly from each other. The genome of a ferret P. carinii appears to be up to 1.7 times larger than those of P. carinii from other hosts. Nearly two dozen P. carinii genes have been cloned and sequenced. The typical P. carinii gene sequence is 60-65% A+T. P. carinii genes usually contain introns, which are typically less than 50 bp in length, but can be as numerous as 9 per gene. A system for naming P. carinii genes is proposed in which each gene would be designated by an italic three-letter lower case symbol. The first allele (i.e. sequence) that is found would have a superscript 1, such as xyz1(1). Any subsequent alleles would be designated as xyz1(2), etc. A protein would have the same symbol as the gene that produced it, but written in roman print with the first letter an uppercase, such as Msg1. Some of the P. carinii genome is comprised of DNA sequences that are present dozens of times. Three families of such repeated DNA sequences have been described. Two of these families (MSG and PRT) encode proteins. The third family is the telomere repeat, which is found at the ends of each chromosome, and sometimes at internal chromosomal sites, in which case it has been called the alpha repeat. Determination of the complete sequence of the P. carinii genome is both practicable and of primary importance to the understanding of this organism. The small size of the P. carinii genome and its packaging into chromosomes that are resolvable by PFGE will facilitate sequence analysis.

Antigenic properties of recombinant glycosylated and nonglycosylated Pneumocystis carinii glycoprotein A polypeptides expressed in baculovirus-infected insect cells

Since a continuous culture system is not yet available for the opportunistic fungal pathogen Pneumocystis carinii, obtaining suitable amounts of purified P. carinii antigens free of mammalian-host lung contaminants is difficult. Hence, production of recombinant antigen possessing epitopes found in native P. carinii antigens is critical for immunological studies. We utilized the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) in insect cells to determine whether B-cell epitopes present in the protein core of a native P. carinii surface glycoprotein were conserved in the recombinant polypeptide, and to investigate its glycosylation by insect cells. B-cell epitopes were retained, but the insect cells appeared to hyperglycosylate the recombinant protein.

Identification of a putative precursor to the major surface glycoprotein of Pneumocystis carinii

The major surface glycoprotein (MSG) of Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. carinii is a family of proteins encoded by a family of heterogeneous genes. Messenger RNAs encoding different MSGs each begin with the same 365-bp sequence, called the Upstream Conserved Sequence (UCS), which is in frame with the contiguous MSG sequence. The UCS contains several potential start sites for translation. To determine if translation of MSG mRNAs begins in the UCS, polyclonal antiserum was raised against the 123-amino-acid peptide encoded by the UCS. The anti-UCS serum reacted with a P. carinii protein that migrated at 170 kDa; however, it did not react with the mature MSG protein, which migrates at 116 kDa. A 170-kDa protein was immunoprecipitated with anti-UCS serum and shown to react with a monoclonal antibody against a conserved MSG epitope. To explore the functional role of the UCS in the trafficking of MSG, the nucleotide sequence encoding the UCS peptide was ligated to the 5' end of an MSG gene and incorporated into a recombinant baculovirus. Insect cells infected with the UCS-MSG hybrid gene expressed a 160-kDa protein which was N-glycosylated. By contrast, insect cells infected with a baculovirus carrying an MSG gene lacking the UCS expressed a nonglycosylated 130-kDa protein. These data suggest that in P. carinii, translation begins in the UCS to produce a pre-MSG protein, which is subsequently directed to the endoplasmic reticulum and processed to the mature form by proteolytic cleavage.

Expression, structure, and location of epitopes of the major surface glycoprotein of Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. carinii

The major surface glycoprotein (MSG) of Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. carinii consists of a heterogeneous family of proteins that are encoded by approximately 100 unique genes. A genomic expression library was screened with a panel of MSG-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to identify conserved and rare epitopes. All of the antibodies reacted with epitopes that are encoded within the 5' end of MSG. The results from the expression screening identified antibodies that recognize highly conserved, moderately conserved, and rare epitopes. Four MAbs (MAbs RA-F1, RA-E7, RA-G10, and RB-E3) reacted with a maltose binding protein-MSG-B fusion protein ([MBP]MSG-B41-1065) by immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Three of the MAbs (MAbs RA-F1, RA-G10, and RA-E7) reacted with the same continuous epitope that was localized to amino acids 278 to 290 of MSG-B. Comparison of the sequence of the RA-F1-, RA-G10-, and RA-E7-reactive epitope to the deduced amino acid sequences of multiple MSGs demonstrated that it is highly conserved. The reactivity of RB-E3 with MSG-B was shown to be dependent on amino acids 184 to 192, which may comprise a portion of a discontinuous epitope.

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: the status of Pneumocystis biochemistry

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia remains a prevalent opportunistic disease among immunocompromised individuals. Although aggressive prophylaxis has decreased the number of acute P. carinii pneumonia cases, many patients cannot tolerate the available drugs, and experience recurrence of the infection, which can be fatal. It is now generally agreed that the organism should be placed with the fungi, but the identification of extant fungal species representing its closest kins, remains debated. Most recent data indicate that P. carinii represents a diverse group of organisms. Since the lack of methods for the continuous subcultivation of this organism hampered P. carinii research, molecular cloning and nucleotide sequencing approaches led the way for understanding the biochemical nature of this pathogen. However, within the last 5 years, the development of improved protocols for isolating and purifying viable organisms from infected mammalian host lungs has enabled direct biochemical and metabolism studies on the organism. The protein moiety of the major high mol. wt surface antigen, represented by numerous isoforms, is encoded by different genes. These proteins are post-transcriptionally modified by carbohydrates and lipids. The organism has the shikimic acid pathway that leads to the formation of compounds which mammals cannot synthesise (e.g., folic acid), hence drugs that inhibit these pathways are effective against the pathogen. Ornithine decarboxylase has now been detected; rapid and complete depletion of polyamines occurs in response to difluoromethylornithine (DFMO). Instead of ergosterol (the major sterol of higher fungi), P. carinii synthesises distinct delta7, C-24-alkylated sterols. An unusual C32 sterol, pneumocysterol, has been identified in human-derived P. carinii. Another signature lipid discovered is cis-9,10-epoxy stearic acid. CoQ10, identified as the major ubiquinone homologue, is synthesised de novo by P. carinii. Atovaquone and other hydroxynaphthoquinone drugs with anti-P. carinii activity probably inhibit pathogen respiration as CoQ analogues. Unlike its effects on Plasmodium, atovaquone does not inhibit the P. carinii dihydroorotate dehydrogenase and pyrimidine metabolism.

A Pneumocystis carinii multi-gene family with homology to subtilisin-like serine proteases

Copies of multi-gene family, named PRT1 (protease 1), encoding a subtilisin-like serine protease were cloned from the opportunistic fungal pathogen Pneumocystis carinii. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of a genomic clone and a cDNA clone of PRT1 from P. carinii f. sp. carinii revealed the presence of seven short introns. Several different domains were predicted from the deduced amino acid sequence: an N-terminal hydrophobic signal sequence, a pro-domain, a subtilisin-like catalytic domain, a P-domain (essential for proteolytic activity), a proline-rich domain, a serine/threonine-rich domain and a C-terminal hydrophobic domain. The catalytic domain showed high homology to other eukaryotic subtilisin-like serine proteases and possessed the three essential residues of the catalytic active site. Karyotypic analysis showed that PRT1 was a multi-gene family, copies of which were present on all but one of the P. carinii f. sp. carinii chromosomes. The different copies of the PRT1 genes showed nucleotide sequence heterogeneity, the highest level of divergence being in the proline-rich domain, which varied in both length and composition. Some copies of PRT1 were contiguous with genes encoding the P. carinii major surface glycoprotein.

Detection of Pneumocystis carinii in induced sputa from immunocompromised patients using a repetitive DNA probe

A hybridization assay for the detection of Pneumocystis carinii was developed using a repetitive DNA fragment of P.c. hominis. The assay was specific as different micro-organisms typically found in the respiratory tract, normal human lung DNA (A 549 cell line) and normal rat lung DNA did not react with the repetitive probe. In a slot blot (SB) hybridization assay, the repetitive probe was able to detect as few as 100 P.c. hominis organisms with no false-positives. The results of the SB hybridization assay were compared with an immunofluorescence (IFA) assay for the detection of P.c. hominis in 84 induced sputum (IS) samples obtained from 52 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive patients, 22 HIV-seronegative patients and 10 healthy individuals. Samples from 24 patients clinically diagnosed with P. carinii pneumonia (PCP) were positive for P.c. hominis by both assays. In addition, the SB assay detected P.c. hominis in 14 patients (10 HIV-positive and four HIV-negative) who were negative by IFA. All 14 samples showed a positive PCR signal for the P.c. hominis dihydrofolate reductase gene, further confirming the presence of P.c. hominis in these specimens. Twelve of these patients had a clinical course highly suggestive of PCP and were either on P. carinii prophylaxis or P. carinii chemotherapy. The other two samples were from HIV-positive patients who had respiratory illness due to causes other than P.c. hominis (disseminated histoplasmosis and fatal Bordetella pneumonia). Detection of P.c. hominis in these samples suggests that these patients may have subclinical colonization by P.c. hominis. Furthermore, P.c. hominis was detected in all 12 sequential IS samples from six AIDS patients who had primary episodes of PCR using the SB assay, while P.c. hominis was detected only in eight samples by IFA (66.6%). All six patients developed recurrent PCP within 6 months from the time the assays were performed, further illustrating the potential of the SB hybridization assay in monitoring PCP recurrence. Thus, the ability of the SB hybridization assay to detect a low parasite load suggests that this assay may become an important supplemental tool, along with current cytological methods, for detecting P.c. hominis in patient populations with lower burdens of the organism and in identifying asymptomatic carriers of the parasite in healthy and immunosuppressed individuals.

Induction of Fibrinogen Biosynthesis and Secretion From Cultured Pulmonary Epithelial Cells

Although the liver is the primary site of fibrinogen (FBG) synthesis, epithelial cells from diverse tissues have been shown to express one or more of the FBG Aα, Bβ, and γ chain genes. In contrast, marrow megakaryocytes, which store FBG in the α-granules, are thought not to express the FBG genes. Our earlier studies have shown that epithelial cells in a variety of extrahepatic tissues express the γ chain gene ubiquitously, while the mRNAs for the Aα and Bβ chain genes are essentially undetectable. During systemic inflammation, the liver secretes increased levels of FBG into the circulation, and lung epithelium responds to local inflammation during pulmonary infection by increased transcription of the γ-FBG gene. Therefore, to determine whether extrahepatic epithelial cells express the Aα, Bβ, and γ chain genes in response to proinflammatory mediators, cultured lung epithelial cells were treated with interleukin-6 (IL-6) and dexamethasone (DEX). Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the levels of γ-FBG mRNA in cultured lung (A549) and liver (HepG2) epithelial cells increased 2- to 10-fold in response to treatment. Reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction amplification demonstrated increased accumulation of steady state levels of FBG Aα, Bβ, and γ chain mRNAs in lung epithelial cells after treatment. The basal level of lung cell γ-FBG gene transcription was not accompanied by appreciable levels of Aα and Bβ chain gene transcription; however, nuclear run-on analysis suggested that the increase in lung cell FBG mRNAs in response to DEX ± IL-6 was due to new transcription. Furthermore, stimulation of lung epithelial cells with IL-6 + DEX resulted in maximal secretion of intact FBG (340 kD) composed of the characteristic Aα, Bβ, and γ chain polypeptides. The data suggest that basal expression of the γ-FBG gene in extrahepatic tissue occurs ubiquitously in the absence of detectable levels of Aα- and Bβ-FBG gene expression, which are then upregulated on induction of an inflammatory response. This would result in local synthesis and secretion of FBG in the injured tissue, supporting the hypothesis that production of FBG by extrahepatic epithelial cells in response to inflammation plays a role in wound repair.

Pneumocystis carinii: what is it, exactly?

The identity of Pneumocystis carinii has been uncertain for many years. Until recently, it was widely regarded to be a protozoan because it does not grow in culture and is not susceptible to antifungal drugs. Although these and a number of other phenotypic characteristics of P. carinii differ from those of typical fungi, analysis of DNA sequences has shown that P. carinii is a member of the fungal lineage of eukaryotes. However, a close phylogenetic relative of P. carinii has not yet been found. Analysis of gene sequences has also revealed that P. carinii is not a single entity but that the genus Pneumocystis contains a complex group of organisms. P. carinii organisms from one host species do not grow when introduced into another host species, and P. carinii isolates from different host species are more genetically divergent from one another than might be expected for members of the same species. Genetic variation of a lesser degree also occurs among P. carinii organisms from the same host species, suggesting that it may be possible to identify strains and to conduct transmission and epidemiological studies. Results of early studies exploiting genetic variation among P. carinii isolates from patients have suggested that recurrent P. carinii pneumonia may not always be caused by reactivation of latent organisms, as is commonly believed. However, other features of P. carinii suggest that this microbe has established a long-term relationship with its host. A striking new development in this regard is the discovery of a genetic system that is designed to allow variation in the structure of a major antigen on the surface of P. carinii.

Pneumocystis carinii: an atypical fungal micro-organism

The purpose of this review is to assist mycologists in having a better understanding of Pneumocystis carinii and the disease that it causes. Now considered to be a fungus, P. carinii is unusual in its life cycle and relationship with the host. P. carinii pneumonia (PCP) pathogenesis, immunology and host defence mechanisms are examined, as well as epidemiological and control strategies. Most pneumocystosis pathophysiological changes result from the parasite's attachment and proliferation in the lungs, resulting in a filling of the alveoli with masses of the micro-organism. Pathological changes include an increase in alveolar capillary membrane permeability and injury to the alveolar epithelium, which may be mediated by the release of degradative enzymes from the pathogen. A host response takes place by hypertrophy, and hyperplasia involving type II epithelial alveolar cells. P carinii interacts with pulmonary surfactants by binding to the hydrophilic proteins A and D, and by modifying their phospholipid composition. Alveolar macrophages and CD4+ T cells play a key role in the host's defence against Pneumocystis. The epidemiology of PCP remains poorly understood. Airborne transmission has been established, but the actual infective form and its source remains unknown. Studies concerning P. carinii genetic diversity have shown that the parasite polymorphism is related, at least partially, to the host species. A strong host-species specificity in P. carinii has been found. From an epidemiological perspective, there appears to be no animal reservoir for the agent of human PCP. Thus, this disease should not be considered to be zoonotic. Although a significant decrease in the incidence of pneumocystosis has been obtained when employing chemoprophylaxis, anti-P. carinii drugs are not completely successful, often inducing deleterious side-effects. For these reasons, new prophylactic and therapeutic strategies need to be developed. One approach could be based on the anti-P. carinii effect of yeast killer toxins and antibiotic anti-idiotypic antibodies.

Antibody-mediated shift in the profile of glycoprotein A phenotypes observed in a mouse model of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

It is well established that Pneumocystis carinii has the molecular capability for variation of a major surface antigen, glycoprotein A (gpA). However, the extent of expression of gpA variation among P. carinii organisms infecting a single host and whether this variation has any impact on host-parasite immunological interactions is unknown. Using a mouse model of P. carinii pneumonia, we were able to demonstrate the expression of more than one gpA phenotype in a closed population of infected mice. Administration of monoclonal antibody (MAb) 2B5, which is specific for one of the gpA phenotypes, resulted in a marked diminution in the frequency of this particular gpA phenotype in the population of organisms. This effect was due to a loss of trophozoites bearing the specific epitope recognized by MAb 2B5; cysts bearing the same epitope appeared unaffected. Interestingly, P. carinii was unable to introduce a new phenotype into the population to compensate for the loss of trophozoites bearing the epitope recognized by MAb 2B5. Discontinuing administration of MAb 2B5 allowed the MAb 2B5-binding phenotype to reemerge. This finding suggests that the phenotype recognized by MAb 2B5 was continually produced even when MAb 2B5 was present. Thus, although P. carinii exhibited a form of antigenic variation, it did not appear able to rapidly introduce new phenotypes into the population in response to destruction by antibodies.

Cloning and characterization of a conserved region of human and rhesus macaque Pneumocystis carinii gpA

Although the genes encoding Pneumocystis carinii (Pc) glycoprotein A (gpA) display a high degree of host species-specific genotypic diversity, the Pc gpA derived from different host species share defined regions of significant homology in their primary amino acid (aa) structure. Using two degenerate oligodeoxyribonucleotide (oligo) primers corresponding to a conserved Cys region (Cys-primers) of the ferret (F), rat (R) and mouse (M) PcgpA, a 306-bp portion of the human (H) PcgpA was amplified from only one of three known HPc-infected lung samples using PCR. The deduced aa sequence of the HPc PCR product was 72% similar to the corresponding region of a published HPc gpA aa sequence. Because the conserved Cys-primers amplified only one of three samples of HPcgpA, a primer-pair was designed from sequences internal to the Cys-primer sequences of the HPcgpA PCR product (hPc). The hPc primers amplified the expected 254-bp product from each of the three HPc-infected lung DNA samples, suggesting that the Cys-primers may have either amplified a HPcgpA present in fewer copies in the genome of HPc or, alternatively, amplified a gene from an uncommon strain of Pc encoding an isoform variant of gpA not present in the other human isolates analyzed in this report. Restriction analysis of the amplified products demonstrated heterogeneity in the internal sequence, confirming that more than one gpA exists in HPc as well. To determine the relationship of HPcgpA to the gpA of Pc from another primate, the hPc primers were used successfully to amplify a 261-bp product from Pc-infected Rhesus macaque (Rm) lung genomic DNA. These results are consistent with our earlier findings that closely related host species are infected with Pc organisms encoding similar gpA, suggesting that the evolutionary divergence of Pc followed that of the mammalian host species.

Active immunity to Pneumocystis carinii reinfection in T-cell-depleted mice

Immunocompetent C.B-17 mice were immunized against Pneumocystis carinii by several intratracheal inoculations with infective P. carinii. These mice and another group of C.B-17 mice naive to P. carinii were then depleted of CD4+ cells by treatment with both anti-CD4 and anti-Thy1 monoclonal antibodies. Both groups of mice were then challenged with an infective inoculum containing 10(7) P. carinii organisms by intratracheal instillation. The mean log10 counts of P. carinii nuclei in the lungs of the nonimmune mice were 4.98, 5.89, and 6.77 when they were killed at 4, 10, and 19 days, respectively, after challenge. The P. carinii counts in the lungs of the immune mice were significantly lower at each time point and below detectable levels at 10 and 19 days. Analysis of P. carinii DNA by PCR revealed no detectable P. carinii in the lungs of the immunized mice at either 10 or 19 days, whereas all of the nonimmunized mice contained P. carinii DNA at all time points. The sera of immune but not nonimmune mice contained P. carinii-specific immunoglobulin G. These results indicate that immunization of an immunocompetent host against P. carinii can protect against P. carinii pneumonia even after the host is depleted of CD4+ cells. In addition, the results are consistent with the possibility that antibodies were responsible for the observed protection against P. carinii.

Surfactant protein D interacts with Pneumocystis carinii and mediates organism adherence to alveolar macrophages

Pneumocystis carinii interacts with glycoproteins present in the lower respiratory tract through its mannose-rich surface antigen complex termed gpA. Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is a recently described component of the airspace lining material that possesses a calcium-dependent lectin domain capable of interacting with glycoconjugates present on microorganisms and leukocytes. Accordingly, we evaluated the extent and localization of SP-D in the lower respiratory tract during Pneumocystis pneumonia in an immunosuppressed rat model and examined its role in modulating interaction of P. carinii with macrophages. We report that SP-D is a major component of the alveolar exudates that typify P. carinii pneumonia and is present bound to the surface of P. carinii organisms in vivo. We further demonstrate that SP-D binds to P. carinii through saccharide-mediated interactions with gpA present on the surface of the organism. Lastly, we show that SP-D augments binding of P. carinii to alveolar macrophages, but does not significantly enhance macrophage phagocytosis of the organism. The interaction of SP-D with gpA represents an additional important component of the host-parasite relationship during P. carinii pneumonia.

Pneumocystis carinii glycoprotein A binds macrophage mannose receptors

Pneumocystis carinii causes life-threatening pneumonia in patients with impaired immunity. Recent studies suggest that alveolar macrophages interact with P. carinii through macrophage mannose receptors. However, the ligand(s) on P. carinii that is recognized by these receptors has not been fully defined. P. carinii contains a major mannose-rich surface antigen complex termed glycoprotein A (gpA). It was therefore hypothesized that gpA binds directly to macrophage mannose receptors and mediates organism attachment to these phagocytes. To assess this, gpA was purified from P. carinii by continuous-elution gel electrophoresis. 125I-labeled gpA bound to alveolar macrophages in a saturable fashion. In addition, gpA binding was substantially inhibited by both alpha-mannan and EDTA, further suggesting that gpA interacts with macrophage mannose receptors. Macrophage membrane proteins capable of binding to gpA were isolated with a gpA-Sepharose column. A 165-kDa membrane-associated protein was specifically eluted from the gpA-Sepharose column with EDTA (20 mM). This protein was identified as the macrophage mannose receptor by immunoprecipitation with a polyclonal anti-mannose receptor antiserum. To further investigate the role of gpA in P. carinii-macrophage interactions, 51Cr-labeled P. carinii cells were incubated with macrophages in the presence of increasing concentrations of soluble gpA, and organism attachment was quantified. Soluble gpA (2.5 mg/dl) competitively inhibited P. carinii attachment to alveolar macrophages by 51.3% +/- 3.7% (P = 0.01). Our findings demonstrate that gpA present on P. carinii interacts directly with mannose receptors, thereby mediating organism attachment to alveolar macrophages.

Transcription factor genes from rat Pneumocystis carinii

Genes encoding the TFIID TATA-box binding protein (TBP) from two probable species of rat Pneumocystis carinii (prototype and variant) were sequenced. The two P. carinii TBP gene sequences were 91% identical to each other, and 65-77% identical to TBP genes from other species. A cDNA from one of the two P. carinii TBP genes was sequenced, which showed that four small introns resided in identical positions within the TBP genes from the prototype and variant rat P. carinii. Conservation of the 180 amino acids that constitute the conserved core of TBP was 97% between the P. carinii TBP, which were 95% and 97% identical to conserved core sequences of TBP from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe respectively.

Pneumocystis carinii attachment increases expression of fibronectin-binding integrins on cultured lung cells

Pneumocystis carinii is an extracellular pathogen which requires attachment to alveolar epithelial cells for growth and replication. Previous studies have demonstrated that the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin (Fn) facilitates attachment of P. carinii to lung cells. This study addresses the role of cell surface Fn receptors (integrins) as mediators of P. carinii attachment and demonstrates the effect of P. carinii attachment on integrin expression on cultured lung cells. To determine the role of Fn-binding integrins in P. carinii attachment, attachment of 51Cr-labelled P. carinii organisms to the lung epithelial cell line A549 was quantified in the presence or absence of anti-integrin antibodies. Antibodies to the alpha v and alpha 5 integrin subunits significantly inhibited P. carinii attachment, while addition of antibody to the alpha subunit of a non-Fn-binding integrin, alpha 2, did not affect P. carinii attachment. To further investigate the role of Fn-binding integrins in P. carinii attachment, the effect of P. carinii attachment on expression of the alpha v and alpha 5 integrin subunits was determined. A549 cells incubated with either P. carinii organisms or with the P. carinii major surface glycoprotein gp120 demonstrated a 3- to 10-fold increase in expression of the alpha 5 integrin subunit; however, neither P. carinii nor gp120 affected the expression of alpha v integrin. Furthermore, the effects of P. carinii on A549 cell alpha 5 integrin expression were attenuated by the addition of an anti-gp120 antibody which blocks P. carinii attachment to A549 cells. Therefore, P. carinii attachment to lung epithelial cells appears to be mediated by alpha v- and alpha 5-containing integrins expressed on the epithelial cell surface, and P. carinii attachment results in increased expression of the alpha 5 integrin subunit.

Use of an ATP bioluminescent assay to evaluate viability of Pneumocystis carinii from rats

A bioluminescent assay which employs the luciferin-luciferase ATP-dependent reaction was used to evaluate the viability of populations of Pneumocystis carinii derived from infected rat lungs. Contamination with host cells was reduced by a purification method which involved a combination of low- and high-speed centrifugations resulting in a 1,000-fold reduction of the rat cells while enriching for the trophic form of P. carinii. A linear correlation for the number of P. carinii nuclei versus the amount of ATP was observed. The ATP content of the organism populations could be maintained at inoculum levels for one week, although the number of organisms did not increase. Addition of respiratory chain inhibitors dramatically decreased the ATP content of the P. carinii after 24 h of incubation, with the exception of the antibiotic oligomycin B. Low concentrations of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and pentamidine isethionate reduced the organism ATP content by over 50% after 24 h of exposure, while no effect was observed with 100-fold greater concentrations of ampicillin. The bioluminescent assay was found to be a more sensitive indicator of viability than a dual fluorescent staining technique. This assay does not require replication of P. carinii and should be a useful method for in vitro drug screening and viability assessment of P. carinii populations.