Development of a simple gene mutation detection method and verification of the frequency of drug-resistant viruses

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K05347
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 37030:Chemical biology-related
• Research Institution: Nihon University
• Principal Investigator: KUWAHARA Masayasu 日本大学, 文理学部, 教授 (40334130)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 河島 尚志 東京医科大学, 医学部, 主任教授 (70224772)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: RNAウイルス / 等温核酸増幅法 / 逆転写PCR法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We constructed a detection system that can discriminate influenza mutations in about 30 minutes, although the sensitivity is low. Mutants at the site are known to be involved in the effectiveness of antiviral drugs. Furthermore, we improved this detection system, and then examined its application to simple detection of the new coronavirus. As a result, in the positive/negative judgment, this method showed a high concordance rate with the existing reverse transcription real-time PCR method (TaqMan probe method).

Free Research Field

バイオ分析化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本法の開発により、変異などを含む核酸バイオマーカーの簡便検出システムが構築された。よって、感染性や薬剤耐性、重篤化等を引き起こすウイルス変異の仕組みの解明や抗ウイルス薬開発の効率化等が期待できる。また、パンデミック対策への利用に加え、究極的には、それに限らず、生活習慣病やその他の感染症等様々な疾患に対する簡易診断への応用も考えられる。