Identification of host genes required for the protection against a lethal infection of Francisella tularensis

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K09955
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Infectious disease medicine
• Research Institution: National Institute of Infectious Diseases
• Principal Investigator: UDA AKIHIKO 国立感染症研究所, 獣医科学部, 主任研究官 (80392322)
• Research Collaborator: Tian Deyu ; Azaki Mika
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 野兎病菌 / 野兎病 / ワクチン / 感染防御 / 免疫反応 / LCN2 / GBP / Iba1陽性マクロファージ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Tularemia is a severe and sometimes fatal zoonotic disease caused by the Gram-negative intracellular bacterium Francisella tularensis. F. tularensis SCHU P9 derived Δftt_0965c strain lacking the ftt_0965c (sulfite exporter) gene conferred stable and good protection in a mouse lethal model. In this study, the immune responses of mice vaccinated with and without Δftt_0965c strain after the challenge of virulent F. tularensis SCHU P9 were compared by microarray and immunohistochemical analysis. These finding suggested that lipocalin 2 and GBP produced by Iba1-positive macrophages would be indispensable for the protection against lethal infection by F. tularensis.

Free Research Field

細菌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまでに、野兎病菌の病原性に関する研究は、野兎病菌が保持する遺伝子に注目されてきた。本研究は、野兎病菌の高い感染性や病原性を抑制可能な感染宿主遺伝子を同定することにより、弱毒化機序が明確で安全な野兎病菌ワクチンを開発するための基礎を築いた。