Development of a novel personal identification method using CRISPR diversity in the human microbiome

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K24245
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0908:Society medicine, nursing, and related fields
• Research Institution: National Research Institute of Police Science
• Principal Investigator: Toyomane Kochi 科学警察研究所, 法科学第一部, 研究員 (70845362)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 微生物叢 / CRISPR / 個人識別

Outline of Final Research Achievements

CRISPRs are prokaryotic genetic elements, composed of repeats that are interspaced by short sequences called spacer. CRISPR loci in the human skin microbiome were sequenced by amplicon sequencing. The spacers were significantly more individual specific than site specific, revealing that spacers in the skin microbiome were highly personalized.

Free Research Field

法科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

皮膚の表面にはヒトDNAより多量の微生物DNAが存在していると考えられており、ヒトDNAが十分に採れない場合の個人識別を目的として、これまでに各国で微生物叢の保持する遺伝情報を用いた個人識別法の開発が試みられてきた。しかしながら、先行研究の多くで用いられてきた16S rRNA遺伝子は微生物叢の構造を解析する上での解像度が低く、実用に至った手法はない。本課題で構築したCRISPRを用いた微生物叢解析は、解像度が高く、微生物叢解析による個人識別法の開発の実現につながるものと期待される。