Microbial population analysis of vector arthropods for developing new control method of vector borne diseases

• Project/Area Number: 16K19112
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Parasitology (including sanitary zoology)
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Qiu Yongjin 北海道大学, 人獣共通感染症リサーチセンター, 博士研究員 (00760985)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
• Keywords: マダニ / 細菌叢 / アフリカ / ボレリア / ザンビア / ウシジラミ / リケッチア / コクシエラ / 細胞内寄生細菌 / 吸血性節足動物 / 感染症 / 節足動物

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this project was to analyze the microbial population in several arthropod species and detect pathogens in Africa. Soft tick, hard tick, and lice were collected in several area in Zambia and subjected to high-throughput sequencing analysis based on 16S ribosomal RNA amplicons. More than 100 different bacterial genera were detected in each sample. In part of the pathogen detection, soft ticks and their blood host (Bats) were used for isolation of Borrelia. We successfully isolated Borrelia sp. from bats. Subsequent analysis revealed that the Borrelia sp. was belonged to New World relapsing fever borrelia even it was detected old world. We designated that new species of Borrelia as Candidatus Borrelia fainii.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、マダニ類を中心に19種258サンプルの節足動物の細菌叢を解析し、アフリカにおける節足動物が保有する細菌叢の情報基盤を構築した。節足動物の共生細菌を利用し感染症の制御方法は現在注目を浴びている手法である。細菌叢解析で得られた知見は、この新しい制御方法を開発するのに重要な情報をもたらす。また、本研究では新種の新世界型回帰熱ボレリアの分離に成功した。本菌は、アフリカ大陸（旧世界）で分離された唯一の新世界型回帰熱ボレリアである。本菌をより詳細に解析することでBorrelia属細菌の分布・進化・系統分類に関する重要な知見が得られることが期待される。

Research Products

• [Int'l Joint Research] The University of Zambia(ザンビア)
• [Journal Article] Viral population analysis of the taiga tick, <i>Ixodes persulcatus,</i> by using Batch Learning Self-Organizing Maps and BLAST search (2019)
  • Author(s): QIU Yongjin、ABE Takashi、NAKAO Ryo、SATOH Kenro、SUGIMOTO Chihiro
  • Journal Title: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Volume: 81 Issue: 3 Pages: 401-410
  • DOI: 10.1292/jvms.18-0483
  • NAID: 130007617731
  • ISSN: 0916-7250, 1347-7439
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Human Borreliosis Caused by a New World Relapsing Fever Borrelia-like Organism in the Old World (2018)
  • Author(s): Qiu Yongjin、Nakao Ryo、Hang’ombe Bernard Mudenda、Sato Kozue、Kajihara Masahiro、Kanchela Sharon、Changula Katendi、Eto Yoshiki、Ndebe Joseph、Sasaki Michihito、Thu May June、Takada Ayato、Sawa Hirohumi、Sugimoto Chihiro、Kawabata Hiroki
  • Journal Title: Clinical Infectious Diseases Volume: 印刷中 Issue: 1 Pages: 107-112
  • DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciy850
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Tick-borne haemoparasites and Anaplasmataceae in domestic dogs in Zambia. (2018)
  • Author(s): Yongjin Qiu, Chiho Kaneko, Masahiro Kajihara, Saasa Ngonda, Edgar Simulundu, Walter Muleya, May Jun Thu, Mudenda Bernard Hang’ombe, Ken Katakura, Ayato Takada, Hirofumi Sawa, Martin Simuunza, Ryo Nakao
  • Journal Title: Ticks and tick-borne diseases. Volume: 印刷中
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Candidatus Borrelia fainii, a New World relapsing fever Borrelia-like organism, the casetive agent of human boreliosis in Zambia. (2018)
  • Author(s): Yongjin Qiu, Ryo Nakao, Bernard Mudenda Hang’ombe, Kozue Sato, Masahiro Kajihara, Sharon Kanchela, Katendi Changula, Yoshiki Eto, Joseph Ndebe, Michihito Sasaki, May June Thu, Ayato Takada, Hirohumi Sawa, Chihiro Sugimoto, Hiroki Kawabata
  • Organizer: The 3rd international joint symposium promotion of infectious diseases research cooperation between Africa and japan toward science, technology and innovation
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Detection and characterization of tick-borne bacterial and protozoan pathogens in domestic dogs, cattle, and ticks in Zambia. (2017)
  • Author(s): Yongjin Qiu, Chiho Kaneko, Masahiro Kajihara, Martin Simuunza, Ngonda Saasa, Hayato Furumoto, Joseph Ndebe, Penjani Kapila, May June Thu, Mudenda Bernard Hang’ombe, Ayato Takada, Chihiro Sugimoto, Ryo Nakao
  • Organizer: 2017 Annual Scientific Symposium ~Sustainable Animal and Human Health though Research Under One Health~
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Investigation of tick-borne bacterial and protozoan pathogens in domestic dogs, cattle, and ticks in Zambia (2017)
  • Author(s): Yongjin Qiu, Chiho Kaneko, Masahiro Kajihara, Martin Simuunza, Ngonda Saasa, Hayato Furumoto, Joseph Ndebe, Penjani Kapila, May June Thu, Mudenda Bernard Hang'ombe, Ayato Takada, Chihiro Sugimoto, Ryo Nakao
  • Organizer: The 9th International Congress on Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens
  • Int'l Joint Research