determination of early target cells of ebola virus

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K08802
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Virology
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: TSUDA YOSHIMI 北海道大学, 医学研究院, 講師 (70447051)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: ウイルス / 感染細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Macrophages, monocytes and dendritic cells are the primary targets for Ebola virus (EBOV) infection and roles for important trigger of immune response in EBOV disease. To analyze the first target cells of EBOV, we evaluated the virus propagation in the peritoneal cavity in mice model that inoculated with mouse-adapted EBOV by intraperitoneal route. Cells collected from peritoneal cavity of infected mice were analyzed cell types by flow cytometry. Most of MAEBOV infected cells were identified as the large peritoneal macrophages (LPMs) and then infected small peritoneal macrophages (SPMs) population increased over time. These results suggested that virus replication in first target cells at the infected site is a important factor for EBOV pathogenicity.

Free Research Field

ウイルス学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

エボラウイルス病はヒトやサルに重篤な出血熱を引き起こす人獣共通感染症である。2014年の大規模なアウトブレイク以後、ワクチンや治療薬の開発が進んでいるが、有効な治療薬や的確な対症療法の開発のための病原性の解明は喫緊の課題である。本研究の成果は、エボラウイルスが感染局所において初期標的細胞とされていたマクロファージや樹状細胞へどの様に感染し増殖、伝播するかを示す結果であり、今後の治療法開発などに非常に重要な知見を与えるものとなると期待される。