| Pneumocystis jirovecii | |
|---|---|
| |
| P. jirovecii cysts in tissue | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Pneumocystidomycetes |
| Order: | Pneumocystidales |
| Family: | Pneumocystidaceae |
| Genus: | Pneumocystis |
| Species: | P. jirovecii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pneumocystis jirovecii | |
| Synonyms | |
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Pneumocystis jirovecii (previously P. carinii) 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. carinii.