Explanacidation of immune regulation mechanism of oral fungal infection aiming at development of new vaccine

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K21389
• Project/Area Number (Other): 18H06301 (2018)
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund (2019); Single-year Grants (2018)
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Fukuoka Dental College
• Principal Investigator: Tasaki Sonoko 福岡歯科大学, 口腔歯学部, 助教 (50824174)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-08-24 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: Candida albicans / Th17 / 口腔カンジダ症 / ワクチン / CD4+T細胞 / BM-DC

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is well known that Th17 cells are involved in immune regulation of Candida albicans, a human resident fungus and a representative pathogen of fungal infections. In this study, we separated the proteins in the mycelial cell membrane fraction of the wild strain Candida albicans SC5314, which we found to strongly induce mouse Th17 cells to differentiate, by HPLC, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, etc., and partially analyzed by proteomics By co-culturing with mouse immune cells, we were able to narrow down some candidate proteins that strongly induce Th17 cells.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学/真菌感染症

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Candida albicans （C. albicans ）は健常なヒトの様々な部位に常在する主要な真菌であるが、高齢者や後天性免疫不全症候群（AIDS）などの易感染性宿主においては再発する難治性の真菌感染症を起こします。C. albicans はその病態の制御に獲得免疫系、なかでもインターロイキン17（IL-17）産生を特徴とするT細胞であるTh17細胞が深く関与していることがこれまでに知られており、今回行ったTh17細胞の分化誘導をもたらす抗原探索は未だ不明であったC. albicans の免疫制御機構の解明に寄与し、既存の治療法以外の治療法を模索するのに役立ちます。