| Project/Area Number |
23K14515
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Review Section |
Basic Section 49050:Bacteriology-related
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| Research Institution | University of Tsukuba |
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Principal Investigator |
MAREE MAIS 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 研究員 (10973167)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2023-04-01 – 2025-03-31
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| Project Status |
Granted (Fiscal Year 2023)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000)
Fiscal Year 2024: ¥2,340,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥540,000)
Fiscal Year 2023: ¥2,340,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥540,000)
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| Keywords | Staphylococcus aureus / Biofilm / Natural transformation |
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| Outline of Research at the Start |
MRSA is a major threat to public health, urging the need to understand how it emerges and disseminates. Recently, we showed that natural transformation can transfer SCCmec carrying the methicillin resistance gene, mecA in biofilms. This research aims to clarify how biofilm matrix components promote natural transformation and how the secreted DNA by donor is protected from degradation by nuclease in staphylococcal biofilms. The results will provide new insights into how biofilms promote natural transformation, and crucially help clarify the emergence mechanisms of drug-resistant strains.
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
During the current year, I have conducted experiments according to my research plan to elucidate the role of biofilms in promoting transformation. To identify the matrix components required for transformation, I determined the extracellular polymeric substances of the biofilms under competence-inducing conditions by various assays. My results showed that extracellular DNA, but not exopolysaccharides (PIA) is the primary matrix component for these biofilms, possibly suggesting an important role for the extracellular DNA in promoting transformation. To address the second objective of the research, I have generated a fluorescence tagging of the Ccr recombinase (which enables SCCmec motility) to gain better understanding of how DNA is transferred and protected from degradation in the biofilm.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
1: Research has progressed more than it was originally planned.
Reason
The current status "Progressing more smoothly than initially planned" was chosen because:
1. The research objectives of identifying the biofilm matrix components that are important for transformation has been fully achieved according to the plan, and the second objective of clarifying how the DNA is secreted and protected from degradation in the biofilm is currently progressing according to plan.
2. In addition to the original plan's objectives of clarifying the important matrix components, other biofilm growth factors such as temperature, media, and cells ratio were tested to provide full understanding of the conditions contributing to enhanced transformation and efficient transfer of SCCmec in Staphylococcus biofilms, leading to MRSA emergence. This has resulted in a paper publication.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
For future work, I plan to continue conducting experiments that address the mechanisms of DNA (such as SCCmec) transfer and protection from nuclease degradation in the biofilm by employing microscopy and other methods described in the plan. There has been no challenges encountered in carrying out the research. The results of this research are expected to be presented in conferences by the next year.
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