Identification of meningococcal virulence factors and the expression profile by using clinical isolates

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08485
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Bacteriology (including mycology)
• Research Institution: National Institute of Infectious Diseases
• Principal Investigator: Takahashi Hideyuki 国立感染症研究所, 細菌第一部, 主任研究官 (60321866)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): YANAGISAWA Tatsuo 理化学研究所, 横山構造生物学研究室, 研究員 (10450420)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 髄膜炎菌 / 病原性 / 感染 / ヒト / 細胞内 / システイン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I selected 20 clinical meningococcal strains isolated from patients and healthy carriers, respectively. After comparing the infectious abilities to Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HBMEC) in vitro, I further selected 9 high and low infecious strains from the 20 strains, respectively. Furthermore, the expression profile of outer membrane proteins within clinical isolates by Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) labeling system. With comparison with the infectious abilities to HBMEC, a protein named cysteine binding protein (Cbp), which is one of the components of a cysteine transporter system in N. meningitidis was found to be related to the meningococcal pathogenesis. Further analyses revealed that meningococcal cysteine uptake via Ctp system was essential for intracellular survival and sustaining in the host cells and played as a meningococcal nutrient virulent factor in N. meningitidis.

Free Research Field

細菌学、分子生物学