Identification of novel virulence factors involved in invasiveness of Burkholderia pseudomallei

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K19125
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Bacteriology (including mycology)
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University (2017); Osaka University (2016)
• Principal Investigator: SHINZAWA Naoaki 東京医科歯科大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 助教 (10583015)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 類鼻疽 / 細菌感染症 / 次世代シークエンサー / 遺伝子欠損株

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Melioidosis is a bacterial infectious disease caused by infection with Burkholderia pseudomallei. We have constructed a mouse melioidosis model and found the relationship of strong tissue-invasiveness and pathogenicity. In this study, we aimed to identify bacterial factors that control invasiveness of B. pseudomallei by Tn-seq analysis combining transposon mutagenesis and NGS analysis. A transposon library of B. pseudomallei bacteria was prepared and Tn-seq analysis was performed, resulting in that genome regions involved in tissue invasiveness were identified. The pathogenicity was evaluated in a mouse infection experiment by preparing a strain of the same genetic bacteria deficient in the corresponding gene. As a result, although the pathogenicity of the defective strain of the capsule synthetic gene was markedly reduced, other candidate genes were not important for the host pathogenicity. From these results, we did not identify the novel pathogenic genes of B. pseudomallei.

Free Research Field

細菌の分子生物学