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A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness
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A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness

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Immunocompetent hosts as a reservoir of pneumocystis organisms: histological and rt-PCR data demonstrate active

M Chabé1, E Dei-Cas, C Creusy

  • 1Ecology of Parasitism, Lille Pasteur Institute, 1 rue du Prof-Calmette BP245, 59019, Lille, France.

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
|January 9, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Pneumocystis pneumonia can spread between healthy individuals and potentially to immunocompromised patients in hospitals. Healthy hosts can act as reservoirs, replicating the infectious Pneumocystis organism in their lungs.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Recent data suggests pneumocystosis transmission between patients and healthcare workers.
  • Previous studies demonstrated Pneumocystis transmission in mouse models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate airborne transmission of Pneumocystis organisms between healthy hosts.
  • To determine if healthy contacts can transmit Pneumocystis to immunocompromised individuals.
  • To explore Pneumocystis replication and behavior in immunocompetent host lungs.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a SCID-Balb/c mouse airborne transmission system.
  • Employed histological and molecular approaches to analyze Pneumocystis in host lungs.
  • Assessed the expression of specific proteins (cyclin-dependent serine-threonine kinase, heat-shock 70 protein) in Pneumocystis.

Main Results:

  • Confirmed healthy host-to-healthy host airborne transmission of Pneumocystis.
  • Demonstrated that secondary healthy contacts can transmit Pneumocystis to immunocompromised hosts.
  • Showed Pneumocystis organisms replicate within the lungs of immunocompetent hosts.

Conclusions:

  • Healthy individuals can serve as a reservoir for Pneumocystis spp.
  • Airborne transmission of Pneumocystis is possible in a hospital setting.
  • Further research is needed to understand the full implications for infection control.

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