中药补骨脂及鸦胆子对大鼠卡氏肺孢子虫肺炎的防治研究

目的探讨中药补骨脂及鸦胆子对大鼠卡氏肺孢子虫肺炎的防治效果。方法用地塞米松皮下注射建立大鼠卡氏肺孢子虫肺炎动物模型,用补骨脂、鸦胆子及两者合剂治疗实验鼠,观察其肺脑组织病理、肺脑组织和血清中MDA(丙二醛)、XOD(黄嘌呤氧化酶)、GSH(谷胱甘肽)等指标变化。结果补骨脂、鸦胆子及合剂治疗实验大鼠体重明显回升,与模型对照差异有显著性(P<005);各治疗组的包囊减少率均高于60%,合剂治疗组不优于各单独治疗组,鸦胆子及合剂治疗组清除氧自由基能力较强。结论鸦胆子及补骨脂对大鼠卡氏肺孢子虫肺炎具有一定疗效。     

Recombinant CD40 Ligand Administration Does Not Decrease Intensity of Pneumocystis carinii Infection in Scid Mice

SUMMARY: X-linked Hyper IgM Syndrome (HIM) is a rare congenital immunodeficiency recently demonstrated to be caused by a mutation in the gene encoding CO40 ligand. These patients are susceptible to Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, which implies an important role for CD40L in host defense against P. carinii. In this study we undertook to investigate whether treatment of P. carinii infected scid mice with murine recombinant CD40 ligand trimer (muCD40L) for 21 days would facilitate clearance of the organisms. We found no significant difference in organism burden in treated compared to control animals. Therefore in this model treatment with muCD40L alone is ineffective in clearing P. carinii infection.     

Regulation of the plasma membrane potential in Pneumocystis carinii

Many protists use a H(+) gradient across the plasma membrane, the proton motive force, to drive nutrient uptake. This force is generated in part by the plasma membrane potential (DeltaPsi). We investigated the regulation of the DeltaPsi in Pneumocystis carinii using the potentiometric fluorescent dye bisoxonol. The steady state DeltaPsi in a buffer containing Na(+) and K(+) (standard buffer) was found to be -78+/-8 mV. In the absence of Na(+) and K(+) (NMG buffer) or Cl(-) (gluconate buffer), DeltaPsi was not significantly changed suggesting that cation and anion conductances do not play a significant role in the regulation of DeltaPsi in P. carinii. The DeltaPsi was also not affected by inhibitors of the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, ouabain (1 mM), and the K(+)/H(+)-ATPase, omeprazole (1 mM). In contrast, inhibitors of the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (100 microM), N-ethylmaleimide (100 microM) and diethylstilbestrol (25 microM), significantly depolarized the DeltaPsi to -43+/-7, -56+/-5 and -40+/-12 mV, respectively. The data support that the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase plays a significant role in the regulation of DeltaPsi in P. carinii.     

卡泊芬净联合复方磺胺甲噁唑治疗艾滋病合并肺孢子菌肺炎

目的探讨卡泊芬净联合复方磺胺甲噁唑(TMP-SMX)治疗艾滋病合并肺孢子菌肺炎(PCP)的疗效。方法回顾性总结分析9例艾滋病合并肺孢子菌肺炎的临床资料,包括临床特点及诊疗经过。结果 9例患者临床诊断PCP成立,经卡泊芬净联合TMP-SMX抗PCP治疗后,除1例死亡(老年患者合并慢性支气管炎病史)外,其余8例均得到满意疗效。结论卡泊芬净联合TMP-SMX治疗艾滋病合并PCP,可达到良好的治疗效果。     

Analysis of Pneumocystis carinii Cyst Wall I. Evidence for an Outer Surface Membrane

ABSTRACT. It has long been thought that the cyst form of Pneumocystis carinii , which can resist host defenses and antimicrobial drugs, is responsible for relapses of P. carinii pneumonia. The thick wall of the cyst is immunogenic and rich in glucosyl/mannosyl and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues. In this study we have demonstrated the presence of a hitherto unreported outer membrane in the cyst wall of P. carinii . This membrane was detected by a combination of techniques, including transmission electron microscopy, freeze-fracture electron microscopy, and membrane labeling with fluorescent lipid analogs following treatment of P. carinii cysts from infected rats for 30 min with Zymolyase, a β-1–3 glucanase. As in gram-negative bacteria and blue-green algae, this 2nd membrane may have an important role in osmoregulation and nutrient utilization; it may also mediate the interaction of P. carinii with its host and serve as a target for drug therapy.     

High-Speed Cell Sorting of Infectious Trophic and Cystic Forms of Pneumocystis carinii

ABSTRACT. The separation of Pneumocystis carinii life-cycle stages while preserving infectivity is a hitherto unresolved challenge. We describe an original, reproducible, and efficient method for separating trophic from cystic forms of P. carinii using a high-speed cell sorter. The large amounts of highly purified (99.6±0.3%) infectious trophic and cystic forms can now be used to elucidate the poorly understood P. carinii life cycle.