The mechanism of complement-inhibitory function in larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K19083
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Parasitology (including sanitary zoology)
• Research Institution: Asahikawa Medical College
• Principal Investigator: Mizuki Sasaki 旭川医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (00632126)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 多包虫症 / 補体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus multilocularis. In humans, metacestodes develop asexually like a tumor, mainly in the liver. I identified new genes of the serpin family (serpin) in E. multilocularis using genome and gene data sets, and attempted to determine their functions as inhibitor of complement cascade. As a result, all of three serpins did not show the complement-inhibitory activity. However, I demonstrated the secretion of these gene products from larval stage of E. multilocularis and protein expression in the germinal layer the parasite.

Free Research Field

寄生虫学