Effects of Atovaquone on the Ultrastructural Morphology of Pneumocystis Carinii

1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (S2) ◽  
pp. 81-82
Author(s):  
M.P. Goheen ◽  
M.S. Bartlett ◽  
M.M. Shaw ◽  
S.R. Meshnick ◽  
J.W. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Reactions ◽  
Pneumocystis Carinii ◽  
Spinner Flask ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Human Embryonic Lung ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Significant Incidence ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Acquired Immunodeficiency ◽  
Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) occurs at some time in most patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole or pentamidine isothionate are the traditional modes of therapy for treatment and prophylaxis of PCP. Unfortunately these drugs are associated with a significant incidence of adverse side effects particularly in patients with AIDS. Toxicity and a growing concern that P. carinii strains are becoming resistant to these compounds is providing the impetus for the search for additional drugs to combat P. carinii. Atovaquone, developed as an antimalarial agent, has activity against a wide range of other organisms, including Toxoplasma sp. and P. carinii, with a lower incidence of adverse reactions during clinical trials. Atovaquone inhibits mitochondrial respiration in P. falciparum and P. carinii. In this study transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the effects of atovaquone on P. carinii organisms in short term spinner flask culture.Spinner flask cultures of human embryonic lung cells were inoculated with P. carinii from infected rat lung.

Immunogold labeling of Pneumocystis carinii for Electron microscopy

1991 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 270-271
Author(s):  
Michael P. Goheen ◽  
Marilyn S. Bartlett ◽  
James W. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Pneumocystis Carinii ◽  
Severe Pneumonia ◽  
Culture Fluid ◽  
Immunogold Labeling ◽  
Antigenic Sites ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Response To Chemotherapy ◽  
Acquired Immunodeficiency ◽  
Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Studies of the biology of Pneumocystis carinii (PC) are of increasing importance because this extracellular pathogen is a frequent source of severe pneumonia in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and is a leading cause of mortality in these patients. Immunoelectron microscopic localization of antigenic sites on the surface of PC would improve the understanding of these sites and their role in pathenogenisis of the disease and response to chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to develop a methodology for visualizing immunoreactive sites on PC with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using immunogold labeled probes.Trophozoites of PC were added to spinner flask cultures and allowed to grow for 7 days, then aliquots of tissue culture fluid were centrifuged at 12,000 RPM for 30 sec. Pellets of organisims were fixed in either 1% glutaraldehyde, 0.1% glutaraldehyde-4% paraformaldehyde, or 4% paraformaldehyde for 4h. All fixatives were buffered with 0.1M Na cacodylate and the pH adjusted to 7.1. After fixation the pellets were rinsed in 0.1M Na cacodylate (3X), dehydrated with ethanol, and immersed in a 1:1 mixture of 95% ethanol and LR White resin.

Role of Flexible Bronchoscopy and Bronchoalveolar Lavage in the Diagnosis of Pediatric Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome-Related Pulmonary Disease

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 897-899
Author(s):  
Jose A. Birriel ◽  
Jose A. Adams ◽  
Kunjana Mavunda ◽  
Sue Goldfinger ◽  
Donald Vernon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bronchoalveolar Lavage ◽  
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ◽  
Pneumocystis Carinii ◽  
Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy ◽  
Relative Safety ◽  
Flexible Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy ◽  
Acquired Immunodeficiency ◽  
Immunodeficiency Syndrome ◽  
Parenchymal Lung Disease

Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in 16 pediatric patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and deterioration in pulmonary function suggestive of opportunistic infection. In 62% of the patients Pneumocystis carinii was identified. Culture results showed a pure growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa for one patient in addition to the Pneumocystis carinii. Bronchoscopy with lavage was well tolerated, with few complications even among patients with significant tachypnea and hypoxia. Because of its relative safety and effectiveness, this procedure should be considered the first invasive measurement used for evaluation of parenchymal lung disease in this population of patients.

scholarly journals A Case Report of Acute Severe Myelitis and Meningitis Secondary to Varicella Zoster Virus Reactivation in a Patient with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor A Novelo-Hernández ◽  
Marco Cárdenas ◽  
Claudia Torres-González ◽  
Patricio Garcia-Espinosa ◽  
Rómulo Ramirez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Varicella Zoster Virus ◽  
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Virus Reactivation ◽  
Neck Stiffness ◽  
Varicella Zoster ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Acquired Immunodeficiency ◽  
Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Background: Myelitis post Herpes-Zoster is a rare condition that is typically associated with immunocompromised states. It usually starts as an acute loss of sensory and motor functions below the affected spinal cord level. The condition can range in severity from a mild to a fatal presentation. Other neurological complications include meningitis, atypical presentations should encourage the search for undiagnosed immunosuppression states. The Case: We describe the case of a 42-year-old man, previously undiagnosed with HIV, who developed acute myelitis and meningitis after the appearance of the classic zoster lesions. On lumbar puncture and subsequent CSF analysis, the patient was found to have Froin’s Syndrome. The patient was initiated with ceftriaxone, vancomycin, and acyclovir regimen and prophylactic antiphymic treatment was also added. After 14 days in the hospital, the fever, headache, and neck stiffness subsided while the sphincter function and lower limb paraplegia did not improve.   Conclusion: Varicella zoster virus reactivation suggests underlying immunosuppression. This case demonstrates the importance of being cognizant to the wide range of clinical manifestations that may suggest spinal cord involvement after clinical reactivation. Furthermore, physicians also need to be mindful that Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and other immunodeficiency states could present with atypical clinical manifestations.

Pathologic Features of Mycobacterium kansasii Infection in Patients With Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

2003 ◽  
Vol 127 (5) ◽  
pp. 554-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Smith ◽  
Claudia P. Molina ◽  
Vicki J. Schnadig ◽  
Michael C. Boyars ◽  
Judith F. Aronson
Keyword(s):  
Lymph Node ◽  
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ◽  
Pulmonary Infection ◽  
Mycobacterium Kansasii ◽  
Abdominal Lymph Node ◽  
Inflammatory Reactions ◽  
Pathologic Features ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Acquired Immunodeficiency ◽  
Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Abstract Context.—Mycobacterium kansasii is a slow-growing photochromogenic mycobacterium that may infect patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) late in the course of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The clinical features of pulmonary and extrapulmonary infections have been described in the literature; however, the pathology of infection has not been adequately addressed. Objective.—This report describes the pathologic features of 12 cases of M kansasii infection in patients with AIDS. Design.—The medical records, autopsy protocols, cytologic material, and histologic material from patients with AIDS and concomitant M kansasii infection at a tertiary-care medical center during 1990–2001 were reviewed. Results.—Twelve cases were identified, 6 by autopsy, 5 of which were diagnosed postmortem. Four of the 12 cases had cytologic material and 4 cases had histologic biopsies available for review. Pulmonary infection was most common (9/12), and all patients in whom thoracic lymph nodes were assessed showed involvement (7/7). Abdominal infection was less frequent, with only 1 of 6, 2 of 6, and 2 of 6, demonstrating liver, spleen, and abdominal lymph node infection, respectively. Isolated infections without documented pulmonary infection included brain abscess (n = 1), ulnar osteomyelitis (n = 1), and paratracheal mass (n = 1). Cytologic and histologic material showed a wide range of inflammatory reactions, including granulomas with and without necrosis, neutrophilic abscesses, spindle-cell proliferations, and foci of granular eosinophilic necrosis. The M kansasii bacillus was characteristically long, coarsely beaded, and frequently showed folded, bent, or curved ends. Intracellular bacilli were randomly or haphazardly distributed within histiocytes. Conclusion.—Mycobacterium kansasii infection produces predominately pulmonary infection in late-stage AIDS with a high incidence of thoracic lymph node involvement and a much lower incidence of dissemination to other sites. Infection is manifest as a wide variety of inflammatory reactions on cytology and histology; however, the characteristic appearance of the bacillus on acid-fast bacilli stain and its intracellular arrangement in histiocytes can allow a presumptive identification.

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