Understanding the mechanism of infection dynamics of paramyxoviruses caused by abnormal membrane fusion and its inhibition

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H03497
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 49060:Virology-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Hashiguchi Takao 京都大学, 医生物学研究所, 教授 (50632098)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 膜融合 / 構造 / エントリー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we analyzed the effects of changes in membrane fusion ability of paramyxoviruses such as measles virus and mumps virus on cellular/tissue tropism at the atomic, molecular, and cellular scales. The results revealed that the amino acid substitution sites responsible for the enhanced membrane fusion ability of measles virus are localized to specific structural regions of the membrane fusion protein. In addition, using the structural information to design molecules that control and inhibit membrane fusion, we successfully constructed new molecules with high infection-inhibitory activity.

Free Research Field

ウイルス学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

パラミクソウイルス科は、麻疹（はしか）を起こす麻疹ウイルスや流行性耳下腺炎（おたふくかぜ）の原因であるムンプスウイルスといった臨床上重要な病原体を含む。従って、パラミクソウイルスにおける膜融合変化を通じた病原性の理解とその感染制御に関する研究を行うことは、パラミクソウイルスへの学問的な理解だけに留まらず、予防・治療法への活用を含めた感染対策として医療や福祉にも貢献が期待できる。