Document 0879
 DOCN  M9480879
 TI    Sequence variations in the internal transcribed spacers of the ribosomal
       RNA genes of Pneumocystis carinii strains that infect humans.
 DT    9410
 AU    Lu J; Lee C; Bartlett M; Smith J; Indiana Univ. Sch. of Med.,
       Indianapolis.
 SO    Abstr Gen Meet Am Soc Microbiol. 1994;94:141 (abstract no. D-255).
       Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASM94/94313066
 AB    Pneumocystis carinii is a major cause of life-threatening pneumonia in
       immunocompromised patients. It is unknown at present whether the P.
       carinii infecting humans represents a single type of organism or a group
       of organisms. To answer this question, we have examined the nucleotide
       sequences of the internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2 of the
       ribosomal RNA genes of P. carinii in bronchoalveolar lavage specimens
       from 10 different patients. Oligonucleotide primers were designed to
       amplify the ITS1 and ITS2 regions separately or together by polymerase
       chain reaction and the nucleotide sequences of the amplified fragments
       were determined. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences revealed that
       sequence variations exist in both the ITS1 and ITS2 regions of P.
       carinii. We found 4 types of ITS1 (designated A, B, C, and D) and 4
       types of ITS2 (designated a, b, c, d) sequences. Based on this
       information, we classified the P. carinii strains from the 10 patients
       into 5 types: Ab, Bd, Ca, Cb and Db. We also found that two patients
       were infected by two different types of P. carinii concurrently. The
       results of this study suggest that sequence variation in the ITS regions
       of rRNA genes of P. carinii can be used to subtype human P. carinii
       strains and that coinfection with more than one strain of P. carinii in
       the same patient is possible.
 DE    Base Sequence  Comparative Study  DNA, Ribosomal/CHEMISTRY/*GENETICS
       *Genes, Fungal  Human  Pneumocystis
       carinii/CLASSIFICATION/*GENETICS/ISOLATION & PURIF  Pneumonia,
       Pneumocystis carinii/*MICROBIOLOGY  RNA, Ribosomal/GENETICS
       Transcription, Genetic  *Variation (Genetics)  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).