# PNEUMOCYSTIS CARINII: METABOLISM AND HOST DEFENSES

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT · 1987 · $120,934

## Abstract

The research proposed in this application is intended to further clarify
mechanisms of host resistance to Pneumocystis carinii and to further
explore biochemical characteristics of the organism in vitro.  Pneumocystis
carinii is a protozoan parasite which causes clinical disease only in
severely immuno-suppressed patients.  In laboratory rats, prolonged therapy
with glucocorticoids induces the disease.  Such rats serve as a source of
organisms for in vitro studies.  Studies of host defenses will be focused
on the mechanisms whereby host effector cells, in particular activated
macrophages, could be lethal to Pneumocystis and the interaction of the
organism with alveolar lining fluids.  In both of these aspects,
perturbations caused by glucocorticoids will be investigated.  In addition,
studies of structural and enzymatic proteins of pneumocystis will be
carried out, using both gel electrophoresis and monoclonal antibodies.  The
identity of antigenic proteins and the relevance of antibodies to given
proteins to protection from disease will be studied.  Characterization of
the phospholipids content of the organisms and their interaction with
alveolar fluid phospholipids will also be undertaken as will initial
characterization of the DNA of Pneumocystis carinii.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3129175
- **Project number:** 5R01AI019772-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT
- **SAM.gov UEI:** H6D6JMXJXDE6
- **Principal Investigator:** EDWARD L PESANTI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $120,934
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1982-08-01 → 1988-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3129175

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3129175, PNEUMOCYSTIS CARINII: METABOLISM AND HOST DEFENSES (5R01AI019772-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3129175. Licensed CC0.

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