🦠 A lung fungus 🧪 A research fungus

Pneumocystis carinii

9.4

A fungus that causes pneumonia in people with weak immune systems

noun
/ˌnjuːmoʊˈsɪstɪs kəˈrɪniː/

Specialized

: Pneumocystis carinii

Patients with HIV are at high risk for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

Examples

Research shows that Pneumocystis carinii can be fatal in immunocompromised individuals.
Doctors often test for Pneumocystis carinii in patients with weakened immune systems.
Treatment for Pneumocystis carinii infection usually involves specific antibiotics.
The discovery of Pneumocystis carinii was important for understanding certain types of pneumonia.
Doctors often test for Pneumocystis carinii in patients with weakened immune systems.
Treatment for Pneumocystis carinii infection usually involves specific antibiotics.
Patients with HIV are at high risk for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

Surface Forms

Pneumocystis carinii singular

Pneumocystis carinii plural

Morphology

Pneumocystis + carinii

This is a Latin binomial (genus + species) where both parts are formal taxonomic labels rather than common English words with transparent senses; 'Pneumocystis' and especially 'carinii' do not convey the specific meaning 'lung-infecting fungus used in research' to a B1 learner. Knowledge of the constituent labels or basic Latin morphemes is required to infer anything, so the meaning is not derivable from the parts for an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Pneumocystis carinii: The name comes from Greek parts and a scientist's name — pneumo means 'lung' and cystis means 'cyst' or 'small sac', and carinii may be named after Dr. Carini who first described it. So the name gives a clear image of tiny cyst-like organisms in the lungs, which helps explain why it can cause 'pneumonia'.