Study of DHPS and DHFR genes of Pneumocystis jirovecii in Thai HIV-infected patients.

The combination of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is widely used for the prophylaxis and treatment of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii. Many studies have shown that mutations in the drug target, the dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene, are presumably involved with the failure of prophylaxis and treatment. We have analyzed dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) mutations in P.

Identification of genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi from stool samples from human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in Thailand.

We identified genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi from 33 stool samples of Thai human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adult patients. Genotype D was identified at the highest frequency (36.4%), while genotype E was the second most common (15.

Genetic diversity of Pneumocystis jirovecii in Thailand.

A fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii, which causes a diffuse bilateral pneumonia called Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) is one of the most common opportunistic infections in HIV-infected patients in Thailand. Molecular techniques have demonstrated diversity among isolates of P. jirovecii by comparison of DNA-sequence variation at the internal transcribed spacer region 1 (ITS1) and region 2 (ITS2) of the nuclear ribosomal RNA genes.

Genotypic study of Pneumocystis jirovecii in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients in Thailand.

Pneumocystis jirovecii is one of the common opportunistic infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients in Thailand. Information regarding genotypic and epidemiological of this organism in Thai patients is not available. We analyzed the genotypes of 28 P.

Blastocystis isolates from a pig and a horse are closely related to Blastocystis hominis.

Blastocystis has a widespread distribution in a variety of animals, which is a potential source of infection for humans. However, the contribution of zoonotic transmission remains unclear due to the absence of molecular proof of these organisms being identical to those found in humans. We report herein the similar subgroup of Blastocystis isolates from humans, pigs, and a horse using a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of partial small-subunit ribosomal DNA (ssu rDNA).

Induction of the sexual stage of Pestalotiopsis microspora, a taxol-producing fungus.

Pestalotiopsis microspora, isolate NE-32, is an endophyte of the Himalayan yew (Taxus wallichiana) that produces taxol, an important chemotherapeutic drug used in the treatment of breast and ovarian cancers. Conditions were determined to induce the perfect stage (teleomorph) of this organism in the laboratory as a critical first step to study inheritance of taxol biosynthetic genes. The perfect stage of Pestalotiopsis microspora NE-32 forms in a period of 3-6 weeks on water agarose with dried yew needles at 16-20 degrees C with 12 h of light per day.