Budget Amount *help |
¥19,630,000 (Direct Cost: ¥15,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥4,530,000)
Fiscal Year 2012: ¥6,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,500,000)
Fiscal Year 2011: ¥6,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,500,000)
Fiscal Year 2010: ¥6,630,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,530,000)
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Research Abstract |
Pneumonia is the third leading cause of death in Japan. The aim of this research project is to elucidate the mechanisms of host defense against Streptococcus pneumonia, the leading causative agent of pneumonia. We have found that a lymphocyte called NKT cell detects bacterial glycolipid antigen rapidly after S. pneumonia infection. Our data show that the recognition of glycolipid antigen by NKT cell is important for bacterial clearance. Furthermore, human NKT cells also respond to S. pneumonia glycolipid similar to mouse NKT cells. These data indicate that the recognition of bacterial glycolipid antigen by NKT cells plays an important role in the host defense against S. pneumonia infection.
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