Analysis of peripheral infection kinetics of rabies virus by a high-sensitive infection detection system

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H03127
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42020:Veterinary medical science-related
• Research Institution: Gifu University
• Principal Investigator: Ito Naoto 岐阜大学, 応用生物科学部, 教授 (20334922)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 大沢 匡毅 岐阜大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 教授 (10344029) ; 酒井 洋樹 岐阜大学, 応用生物科学部, 教授 (40283288)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 狂犬病ウイルス / 標的細胞 / 末梢感染

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to identify a novel rabies virus target cell in subcutaneous tissue and then to elucidate the transmission route to nervous tissue. Attempts to detect target cells in mouse subcutaneous tissue resulted in the staining of multiple cells with similar morphological characteristics. These cells were presumed to be vascular endothelial cells based on their morphological characteristics. We tried to identify cell types by using cell markers, but failed to do so because the detection frequency of target cells was significantly low. So we genetically modified the virus used for detection, but this attempt did not solve the problem. On the other hand, our preliminary results showed that rabies virus has a high affinity for squamous cells, indicating the possibility of the presence of virus target cells in skin tissue.

Free Research Field

人獣共通感染症学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

狂犬病ウイルスは末梢組織においてほとんど増殖しないため、標的細胞の検出・同定は極めて困難である。本研究課題は、高感度の細胞検出系の活用により、この困難に挑戦したものである。様々な試みにもかかわらず、ウイルス標的細胞の確定には至らなかったものの、本研究で得られた成果は、今後、このような研究を継続する上で、極めて重要な基礎データとなる。将来、末梢組織におけるウイルス標的細胞が同定され、神経組織への感染経路が明らかとなれば、現在、十分に普及していない狂犬病ワクチンを補助・代替する新規の狂犬病予防法の開発につながることが期待できる。