Identification of novel microbes using cocultivation with Acanthamoeba

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22451
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 45:Biology at organismal to population levels and anthropology, and related fields
• Research Institution: Gifu University
• Principal Investigator: Hiroki Nagai 岐阜大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 教授 (80222173)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: アカントアメーバ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study utilized Acanthamoeba, which is commonly used as a host in symbiotic microorganism and giant virus research, as a model host to explore new amoeba-parasitic and symbiotic microorganisms from the environment. Unfortunately, we were unable to isolate novel phylum "dark matter" microorganisms such as CPR bacteria. However, we were able to isolate and analyze several Actinobacteria and giant viruses that have novelty at the level of new species/genera or higher.

Free Research Field

細菌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で単離したアメーバ寄生・共生微生物は、これまで培養不能であることなどから記載されることがなかった新規微生物である。本研究の成果は、アメーバ寄生性の病原微生物や巨大ウイルスの進化の理解を新たに方向づけるだけでなく、地球上の生命の起源や進化について新たな光明を照らすものになると期待できる。