Oxygen concentration-dependent energy metabolism conversion of Fasciola flukes inside host

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K15996
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 42020:Veterinary medical science-related
• Research Institution: Iwate University
• Principal Investigator: Ichikawa-Seki Madoka 岩手大学, 農学部, 助教 (20700488)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 肝蛭 / 人獣共通感染症 / ミトコンドリア呼吸鎖 / 薬剤標的

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Fasciolosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease distributed around the world. Its economic damage to the livestock industry is the largest among trematode infections. In this study, we analyzed changes in biochemical properties of the mitochondrial respiratory system of Fasciola flukes in response to dramatic changes of oxygen concentration inside host. In adults, it was revealed that fumaric acid respiration adapted to the hypoxic environment was activated. On the other hand, it was found that larvae switch between oxygen respiration and fumaric acid respiration according to the oxygen concentration in the habitat, and it was shown that fumaric acid respiration is extremely promising as a drug target in the host body in a hypoxic environment.

Free Research Field

獣医寄生虫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年、薬剤耐性肝蛭の出現が問題となっているため、新規薬剤の開発が求められている。宿主と異なる寄生虫独自の代謝系は格好の薬剤標的となるため、本研究成果は新規候補化合物の探索につながる重要な基盤情報になる。