Antonio Carini
Encyclopedia
Antonio Carini was an Italian
physician
, bacteriologist and professor. He worked in the public health services of São Paulo, Brazil for over forty years.
Carini showed that rabies
of herbivores could be transmitted by bats, and discovered a parasite (Pneumocystis carinii), which causes pneumocystosis
.
In 1906, aged 34, he was invited to run the Pasteur Institute
of São Paulo, a position he held until 1914.
, Carlos Chagas
described parasitic forms that linked the pulmonary cycle of the trypanosome
. But in 1910, Carini and Maciel Jesuino found cyst
formations very similar to these parasytic forms when examining the lungs of rats living in the sewers and naturally infected by Trypanosoma lewisi. Carini sent the biological material from São Paulo to French researchers Pierre and Eugénie Delanoë at the Institut Pasteur in Paris. In 1912, after studying the material, they confirmed that the parasite was indeed different from T. cruzi and called it Pneumocystis carinii, in honour of the researcher. The Delanoës published the first description of the organism as something different from trypanosomes.
In 1942, two Dutch researchers, G. van der Meer and S. L. Brug, were presented three cases in humans (two babies and a 21-year-old adult), affected by a form of pneumonia particularly frequent in Central Europe, especially in frail or dystrophic
premature children. In the 1980s, investigations about its molecular biology made clear that the pneumonia was not caused by a parasitic protozoan, but by a fungus
. In the same years, Pneumocystis carinii was often held responsible for severe lung infections in patients affected by AIDS. In 1999, the human variant of Pneumocystis carinii was renamed Pneumocystis jirovecii
, but the former name is still commonly used.
Carini was Professor of Microbiology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Pavia
and a prolific researcher in medical microbiology. He identified or studied over 150 new or little-known micro-organisms, including trypanosomes, Giardia
, pneumocystis, plasmodia, toxoplasma, and Leptospira
.
three years later, aged 78.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, bacteriologist and professor. He worked in the public health services of São Paulo, Brazil for over forty years.
Carini showed that rabies
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals. It is zoonotic , most commonly by a bite from an infected animal. For a human, rabies is almost invariably fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms...
of herbivores could be transmitted by bats, and discovered a parasite (Pneumocystis carinii), which causes pneumocystosis
Pneumocystosis
Pneumocystosis is an infection by Pneumocystis jirovecii that primarily occurs as a pulmonary infection AIDS patients, with extrapulmonary involvement being uncommon but, if occurring in the skin, presenting most often as nodular growths in the auditory canal....
.
Early life
Carini was born in Sondrio, Italy.In 1906, aged 34, he was invited to run the Pasteur Institute
Pasteur Institute
The Pasteur Institute is a French non-profit private foundation dedicated to the study of biology, micro-organisms, diseases, and vaccines. It is named after Louis Pasteur, who made some of the greatest breakthroughs in modern medicine at the time, including pasteurization and vaccines for anthrax...
of São Paulo, a position he held until 1914.
The discovery of Pneumocystis carinii
In 1909, examining the lungs of guinea pigs experimentally infected with Trypanosoma cruziTrypanosoma cruzi
Trypanosoma cruzi is a species of parasitic euglenoid trypanosomes. This species causes the trypanosomiasis diseases in humans and animals in America...
, Carlos Chagas
Carlos Chagas
Carlos Justiniano Ribeiro Chagas, or Carlos Chagas , was a Brazilian sanitary physician, scientist and bacteriologist who worked as a clinician and researcher. He discovered Chagas disease, also called American trypanosomiasis in 1909, while working at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute in Rio de Janeiro...
described parasitic forms that linked the pulmonary cycle of the trypanosome
Trypanosome
Trypanosomatids are a group of kinetoplastid protozoa distinguished by having only a single flagellum. The name is derived from the Greek trypano and soma because of the corkscrew-like motion of some trypanosomatid species. All members are exclusively parasitic, found primarily in insects...
. But in 1910, Carini and Maciel Jesuino found cyst
Cyst
A cyst is a closed sac, having a distinct membrane and division on the nearby tissue. It may contain air, fluids, or semi-solid material. A collection of pus is called an abscess, not a cyst. Once formed, a cyst could go away on its own or may have to be removed through surgery.- Locations :* Acne...
formations very similar to these parasytic forms when examining the lungs of rats living in the sewers and naturally infected by Trypanosoma lewisi. Carini sent the biological material from São Paulo to French researchers Pierre and Eugénie Delanoë at the Institut Pasteur in Paris. In 1912, after studying the material, they confirmed that the parasite was indeed different from T. cruzi and called it Pneumocystis carinii, in honour of the researcher. The Delanoës published the first description of the organism as something different from trypanosomes.
In 1942, two Dutch researchers, G. van der Meer and S. L. Brug, were presented three cases in humans (two babies and a 21-year-old adult), affected by a form of pneumonia particularly frequent in Central Europe, especially in frail or dystrophic
Dystrophy
Dystrophy is any condition of abnormal development, often denoting the degeneration of muscles.-Types:* Muscular dystrophy* Duchenne muscular dystrophy* Becker's muscular dystrophy* Reflex neurovascular dystrophy* Retinal dystrophy* Conal dystrophy...
premature children. In the 1980s, investigations about its molecular biology made clear that the pneumonia was not caused by a parasitic protozoan, but by a fungus
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
. In the same years, Pneumocystis carinii was often held responsible for severe lung infections in patients affected by AIDS. In 1999, the human variant of Pneumocystis carinii was renamed Pneumocystis jirovecii
Pneumocystis jirovecii
Pneumocystis jirovecii is a yeast-like fungus of the genus Pneumocystis. The causative organism of Pneumocystis pneumonia, it is an important human pathogen, particularly among immunocompromised hosts. Prior to its discovery as a human-specific pathogen, P. jirovecii was known as P...
, but the former name is still commonly used.
Carini was Professor of Microbiology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Pavia
University of Pavia
The University of Pavia is a university located in Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. It was founded in 1361 and is organized in 9 Faculties.-History:...
and a prolific researcher in medical microbiology. He identified or studied over 150 new or little-known micro-organisms, including trypanosomes, Giardia
Giardia
Giardia is a genus of anaerobic flagellated protozoan parasites of the phylum Metamonada in the supergroup "Excavata" that colonise and reproduce in the small intestines of several vertebrates, causing giardiasis, commonly known as Beaver fever...
, pneumocystis, plasmodia, toxoplasma, and Leptospira
Leptospira
Leptospira is a genus of spirochaete bacteria, including a small number of pathogenic and saprophytic species...
.
Later life
In 1947 he retired from the leadership of the Paulista Institute of Biology and returned to Italy. He died in MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
three years later, aged 78.