Chemotherapy techniques and molecular pharmacological mechanisms for diseases caused by unculturable plant-pathogenic bacteria

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K14465
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 39040:Plant protection science-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Maejima Kensaku 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 助教 (20726062)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: ファイトプラズマ / 試験管内培養 / 治療薬 / スクリーニング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we conducted drug screening by using an "in vitro culture system" in which the plant pathogenic bacteria phytoplasmas, whose in vitro culture system has not been established, were "cultured" within host plants on plant media. We found several drugs that significantly reduced the accumulation of phytoplasmas. We also found that the anti-phytoplasma activities significantly differed among derivatives of drugs. In addition, complete removal of phytoplasma (phytoplasma-free) was established by continuous treatment with the drug(s). In addition, we found that it is possible to estimate the susceptibility/resistance to various drugs from the sequence information of the drug target genes of phytoplasmas.

Free Research Field

植物保護科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、発見から50年を経ても理解が進んでいなかったファイトプラズマの薬剤感受性・耐性を包括的に解明した初めての成果である。未だ防除技術が確立されていないファイトプラズマ病研究及び対策を一変させる端緒となる可能性があり、新たな農薬が開発され、ファイトプラズマ病の防除のみならず治療への道を拓けると期待される。さらに、他にも存在する培養困難な植物病原細菌の防除・治療技術の開発にも本研究成果の応用が期待される。