New bacterial characteristics based on esp genes

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08457
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Bacteriology (including mycology)
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Morikawa Kazuya 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 教授 (90361328)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 黄色ブドウ球菌 / 不均一性 / esp

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Survival of only subpopulation of cells (rather than all of the cells) is the ordinary strategy for bacteria to cope with diverse environments. Certain species switches the type of flagellar to escape from host immune system, and others express competence machinery to incorporate new genetic information. In such cases, expression of cryptic genes (genes that ordinary do not express) in subpopulation is important. We have identified a series of such genes, and termed “esp: expression in subpopulation”, but function of many esp genes still elusive. This study aimed to clarify the functions of esp genes, and found that esp17 is responsible for the resistance to dryness.

Free Research Field

細菌分子遺伝学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で対象とした黄色ブドウ球菌は乾燥に強く、乾燥表面で数ヶ月以上生き残る。ヒト-モノ（例えばドアノブなど）-ヒトという感染経路を成立させる上で乾燥耐性は重要な特質であるが、乾燥耐性の実際のメカニズムは実はよく分かっていない。esp17は高浸透圧での増殖には必要ないものであった。すなわちesp17は未だメカニズムが不明な乾燥耐性に浸透圧耐性以外の仕組みで寄与する因子である可能性がある。その仕組みについて今後明らかにすることでこの重要なヒト病原細菌の新たな側面が明らかになる。