Polymerase Chain Reaction Based Diagnostic Assays for Pneumocystis Carinii

摘要

The objectives of this study are to develop polymerase chain reaction assays forthe-identification and quantitation of Pneumocystis carinii infections in the lungs, solid organs, bronchioloalveolar lavage fluids and blood of rats and humans. Work during the initial project period consisted of implementing qualitative reaction capable of identifying the organism in humans and rats, developing the quantitation necessary for using the assay in rats, investigation the efficacy of the assay in following the development and treatment of Pneumocystis carinii infections in the lungs and BAL fluids of rats, and attempting to implement the assay in a sensitive and reliable way in blood. With the exception of implementing the assay in a sensitive and reliable manner in blood, all the objectives for the first project period have been met.