Analysis of nuclear structure on chlamydia infected cells

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K07558
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 49050:Bacteriology-related
• Research Institution: Fukushima Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Michitaka 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (80456649)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: クラミジア感染

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Chlamydia, which causes sexually transmitted diseases, invades into and proliferates in a host cell by manipulating the function of the cell. In this project, we focused on the nuclear dynamics in infected cells. We found that the size of the PML body, which is one of nuclear structures, were increased in Chlamydia infected cells. However, there was no change in Chlamydia infection and proliferation in PML body-deficient cells. In addition, while examining from various viewpoints, it was found that Atg9A, which is an essential factor for autophagy induction, affects Chlamydia growth, although it was not related to the structural change of the nucleus in an infected cell.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

我々は、結果的に、Atg9Aがオートファジー非依存的にクラミジア増殖にとって有利に働くことを明らかにした。近年、治療薬として使用されている抗生物質に耐性のクラミジアの出現が報告され始め、世界保健機構(WHO)は抗菌剤耐性に対するクラミジア感染症治療の新しいガイドラインを公表するなど警戒している。更なるクラミジア感染におけるAtg9A機能の解析は、クラミジアの新たな感染メカニズムの解明、ひいては新たな治療薬ターゲットを見出すことに繋がる。従って、このような今後の糸口を見出した本研究は、意義が高いとものと考えられる。