Elucidation of the translocation mechanism of M. pneumoniae across the human bronchial epithelial barrier.

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K19619
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Infectious disease medicine
• Research Institution: Kurume University
• Principal Investigator: Yamamoto Takeshi 久留米大学, 医学部, 講師 (20632566)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 肺炎マイコプラズマ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is known to be accompanied by a variety of complications called extrapulmonary manifestations with a frequency of about 25%, and the translocation of M. pneumoniae to the extrapulmonary site is thought to be partly involved in the development of these extrapulmonary diseases. In this study, we investigated the translocation mechanism of M. pneumoniae across the human bronchial epithelial barrier, and found M. pneumoniae translocates through paracellular or transcellular route without affecting epithelial barrier integrity.

Free Research Field

細菌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

肺炎マイコプラズマの感染経路は主に経気道飛沫感染であるが、呼吸器症状の有無によらず、肺外疾患においても同様に呼吸器が本菌の主要な侵入部位となると考えられている。そのため肺外疾患においても、気道上皮のバリア機構は肺炎マイコプラズマの最初の侵入障壁として機能しており、その通過メカニズムの解明は肺炎マイコプラズマによる肺外疾患の制御基盤の構築に不可欠であるといえる。本研究の成果はその一助となることが期待される。