Creation of non-replicative bacteriophages for the practical application of phage therapy

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16636
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 49050:Bacteriology-related
• Research Institution: Gifu University
• Principal Investigator: Mitsunaka Shoichi 岐阜大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 特任助教 (10836406)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: バクテリオファージ / 合成生物学 / ファージセラピー / 生物学的封じ込め

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we established the biological containment method of phages that is applicable to various phages. Our method for biological containment of phages is to convert wild-type phages to non-replicative phages that cannot produce progeny phages by deleting virion gene(s). Almost all non-replicative phages created by our method could not form plaques on host bacteria lawn and were unable to reacquire the ability to proliferate. In addition, non-replicative phages showed similar therapeutic efficacy to wild-type phages in mouse sepsis model.

Free Research Field

合成生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

改変型ファージは遺伝子組換え生物に該当するため、状況に応じて生物学的に封じ込める必要があるが、これまでに様々なファージに適用できる生物学的封じ込め策は報告されていなかった。本研究で確立したファージの生物学的封じ込め策は原理的にはあらゆるファージに適用できるため、改変型ファージの実用化に寄与する基盤技術になると考えている。