| Project/Area Number |
23KF0157
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Section | 外国 |
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| Review Section |
Basic Section 49040:Parasitology-related
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| Research Institution | Osaka Metropolitan University |
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Principal Investigator |
金子 明 大阪公立大学, 大学院医学研究科, 特任教授 (60169563)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
BARBIERI LAURA 大阪公立大学, 大学院医学研究科, 外国人特別研究員
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| Project Period (FY) |
2023-09-27 – 2026-03-31
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| Project Status |
Granted (Fiscal Year 2023)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥2,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,000,000)
Fiscal Year 2025: ¥100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥100,000)
Fiscal Year 2024: ¥1,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000)
Fiscal Year 2023: ¥800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000)
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| Keywords | malaria prevalence / microscopy / PCR / RDT / malaria antigens / immunoserology / CyTOF |
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| Outline of Research at the Start |
This is a longitudinal cohort study involving 300 individuals from a highly malaria-endemic area of Kenya to analyse the heterogeneity of the immune response to malaria. Malariometric parameters and blood samples will be collected to monitor the individual immunoprofile overtime via mass cytometry.
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
During this fiscal year, we successfully completed the fieldwork activities in Kenya and the procedures for shipment and handling of the blood (PBMC) samples from Kenya to Japan. Malaria prevalence was assessed by RDT, PCR, and microscopy. For the latter, new local microscopists were hired at our lab in Homa Bay Hospital. I personally handled the contract during my visit. Based on prevalence data, a strategy to select the most informative samples for mass cytometry was defined. Using malaria-specific antigens, currently being produced by Prof. Takashima at Ehime University, blood samples will be screened via immunoserological (ELISA) assay (Dr. Kanoi, Mount Kenya University). This will allow us to identify the most reactive samples which will be analysed by CyTOF at IFReC (Prof. Wing).
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
The fieldwork was successfully completed. The data match our expectations based on previous surveys in the area. The sample selection strategy was modified with respect to the original plan according to our preliminary data. This involved the inclusion of Prof. Takashima in the project. I believe that the revised strategy is more solid and will make the final results more informative. The ethical/admin procedures for shipment and storage of the blood samples, including the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals and bilateral agreements between Mount Kenya Universty, Osaka Metropolitan University, and Osaka University, took longer than expected. However, this does not depend on us. Despite this delay, the project is proceeding well, and I expect to achieve the study goals in time.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
We expect the malaria-specific antigens to be ready by the end pf April 2024. These will be shipped to Kenya snd used for immunoserological assays (Elispot) on the serum isolated from the cohort's blood samples. This will allow us to identify the most immunoreactive samples containing anti-malaria antibodies. meanwhile, at IFReC, the same antigens will be used to design the antibody panel for the CyTOF screening. Approximatey 150 samples will be shipped to IFReC during the summer. Mass cytometry will require approximately 1 month. We expect to start the bioinformatic analysis by the end of 2024. The bioinformatic analysis will last several months, upon which the results will be integrated with data from our collaborators (RNA-seq, serology, socio-epidemiology) for the final publication.
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