2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Analysis of a new mechanism of resistance gene expression in vancomycin-resistant enterococci
| Project/Area Number |
19K17922
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Review Section |
Basic Section 54030:Infectious disease medicine-related
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| Research Institution | Gunma University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | 薬剤耐性 / プラスミド / 腸球菌 / バンコマイシン |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is a global problem due to the paucity of therapeutic agents. This study was conducted using a Nisin-inducible expression vectors to identify novel transcriptional regulators of the vancomycin resistance gene cluster in enterococci, but unfortunately, no transcriptional regulators contributing to vancomycin resistance were found. In the parallel, we discovered and reported the first linear plasmid (pELF-type plasmid) in enterococci from VRE isolated in Japan. This plasmid contained several drug resistance genes and showed a high transfer frequency to a broad range of enterococci. We also found a case in which a pELF-type plasmid caused the nosocomial spread of VRE in a Japanese medical institution, verifying that the pELF-type plasmid is a clinically important mobile genetic element.
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| Free Research Field |
細菌学
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
バンコマイシン耐性腸球菌(VRE)が治療薬の少なさから全世界的な問題となっている。このバンコマイシン耐性遺伝子群の腸球菌間の伝達には、菌体内に染色体とは別に存在するプラスミドが重要な役割を果たしている。本研究成果として、腸球菌で初の線状プラスミド(pELF型プラスミド)を発見した。このプラスミドは複数の腸球菌種へ高頻度に伝達することが可能で、バンコマイシンを含む複数の薬剤耐性遺伝子を保有することから、受容菌を効率的に多剤耐性化させることが可能であった。日本国内では既にpELF型プラスミドを保有したVREの拡散が確認されており、VREの急速な増加・拡散に寄与しうるメカニズムを明らかとした。
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