Evidence for DNA Synthesis in Pneumocystis carinii Trophozoites Treated with the β-1,3-Glucan Synthesis Inhibitor Pneumocandin L-693,989

• Published in: The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology Vol. 57; no. 5; pp. 447 - 448
• Main Authors: WYDER, MICHAEL A, JOHNSTON, LAURA Q, KANESHIRO, EDNA S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Malden, USA : Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.09.2010; Blackwell Publishing Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Animals; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiparasitic agents; beta-Glucans - antagonists & inhibitors; beta-Glucans - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Nucleus - drug effects; Cell Nucleus - genetics; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Cytochemistry; DAPI; DB181; DNA; DNA Replication - drug effects; Echinocandins - pharmacology; Female; Humans; Lung - microbiology; Medical sciences; Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors - pharmacology; nucleus; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pneumocystis carinii - drug effects; Pneumocystis carinii - genetics; Pneumocystis carinii - growth & development; Pneumocystis carinii - metabolism; Pneumocystis Infections - microbiology; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Trophozoites - drug effects; Trophozoites - growth & development; Parasite; Pneumocystis carinii; DNA synthesis; DAPI; nucleus; Biosynthesis; Cytochemistry; Fungi; Glucan; DB181; Antifungal agent; Trophozoite; Pathogenic; DNA; Inhibitor; Fungi Imperfecti
• ISSN: 1066-5234; 1550-7408
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2010.00502.x

Pneumocandins inhibit β-1,3-glucan synthesis preventing the development of Pneumocystis cysts that are absent from the lungs of treated rats. To determine whether treated trophozoites are capable of DNA replication, cytochemical analyses were performed on 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)- and DB181-stained Pneumocystis carinii isolated from pneumocandin L-693-989-treated rats. Fluorescence intensities of trophozoite nuclei from drug-treated rats were greater than those of untreated controls, suggesting that DNA replication was not inhibited but that cytokinesis and perhaps karyokinesis were blocked.