The role of extracellular matrix binding proteins during EFB infection and establishment of an infection model.

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K08818
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Bacteriology (including mycology)
• Research Institution: Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Okumura Kayo 帯広畜産大学, 畜産学部, 准教授 (70415561)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 病原性 / 細菌感染

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Melissococcus plutonius is the etiological agent of European foulbrood (EFB) of honeybees. Because of its highly contagious and difficulties seen in eradication, this disease is only selected as the OIE-listed notifiable bacterial honeybee diseases together with American foulbrood. However, their pathogenesis was not fully understood so far.

To understand their pathogenicity mechanisms, we investigate the role of extracellular matrix binding proteins during EFB infection and the establishment of an infection model.

Free Research Field

細菌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ヨーロッパ腐蛆病菌によるミツバチの被害は古くから知られており、約100年前にその被害について記された文献も存在する。にもかかわらず、本菌がどのような病原因子を発現させ、なぜミツバチ幼虫がこの感染症によって死に至るのかといった感染の仕組みは未だに分かっていない。

腐蛆病感染によるミツバチ個体数の減少は、養蜂業への影響ばかりでなく、ミツバチの受粉媒介に依存する農作物生産への影響等、その経済的損失は甚大である。本研究で得られた成果は必ずやヨーロッパ腐蛆病の病原性の解明や防除に貢献し、ミツバチの個体数維持や農産物の安定供給に繋がるものと確信する。