Analysis of regulatory mechanism of sporulation and its signal in Clostridium perfringens

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08460
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Bacteriology (including mycology)
• Research Institution: Tokai University (2017); Kanazawa University (2015-2016)
• Principal Investigator: OHTANI Kaori 東海大学, 医学部, 准教授 (30377410)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 異種間情報伝達 / 芽胞形成

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Clostridium perfringens causes gas gangrene and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases in humans.Spores are important factors to cause diseases but the mechanism of how to start sporulation has not been identified. One of the sensor proteins to start the sporulation was identified in this research. The mutant strain of this sensor reduced the sporulation and its complemented strain recovered the sporulation rate. Moreover, Clostridium butyricum and C. perfringens were co-cultured in the sporulation condition. These bacteria are normal flora of human intestine and have possibility to communicate to each other. A decrease in sporulation rate of C. perfringens was found, furthermore, transcription of enterotoxin gene was also found to be reduced by the co-culture with C. butyricum. These data indicated that signals from C. butyricum control the gene expression in C. perfringens. This kind of communication of bacteria in the human intestine might be very important to maintain the bacteria balance.

Free Research Field

細菌学