Elucidation of physiological functions and regulatory mechanisms of the tick antimicrobial peptide defensin.
| Project/Area Number |
22580058
|
|---|
| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
|
| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
|---|
| Section | 一般 |
|---|
| Research Field |
Applied entomology
|
|---|
| Research Institution | University of Tsukuba |
|---|
Principal Investigator |
TAYLOR De Mar 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 教授 (50261772)
|
|---|
| Research Collaborator |
KAWABATA Hiroki 国立感染症研究所, 細菌第一部, 第4室長
|
|---|
| Project Period (FY) |
2010 – 2012
|
| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2012)
|
| Budget Amount *help |
¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000)
Fiscal Year 2012: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000)
Fiscal Year 2011: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000)
Fiscal Year 2010: ¥2,210,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥510,000)
|
|---|
| Keywords | 昆虫生理 / マダニ / Ornithodoros moubata / Defensin / Rel / 抗菌ペプチド / Soft tick / Target of Rapamycin / TOR / 転写制御 / 自然免疫 |
|---|
| Research Abstract |
The antimicrobial peptide defensin plays a significant role in the immune responses of blood feeding ticks. The objective of this research was to elucidate mechanisms regulating defensin genes and clarify the role of NF-κB Rel regulatory factors (OmRel) in these regulatory mechanisms. OmRel appears to upregulate all four defensins (defensins A, B, C, D) identified from the soft tick Ornithodoros moubata. Based on luciferase transfection assays and gel shift assay OmRel directly regulates the expression of Defensin C. RNAi knockdown of OmRel showed a reduction in the expression of all defensin genes. However, OmRel alone can not regulate all defensin genes so we identified an IMD Pathway NF-κBRelish regulatory factor and investigated whether the nutrient pathway may play a role in the regulation of immune responses in the soft tick O. moubata. Future studies are underway to confirm the roles of Relish and the nutrient pathway in regulating the immune system of ticks.
|
Report
(4 results)
Research Products
(18 results)
