In vivo MS analysis of drug-resistant pneumococci and research on the development of new antibacterial drugs

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H03858
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57020:Oral pathobiological science-related
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Terao Yutaka 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 教授 (50397717)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 中馬 吉郎 新潟大学, 自然科学系, 研究教授 (40372263) ; 土門 久哲 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 准教授 (00594350) ; 前川 知樹 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 研究教授 (50625168)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Streptococcus pneumoniae

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Pneumonia and aspiration pneumonia are becoming more severe due to the increase in drug-resistant bacteria. The applicant has independently analyzed the conflict between neutrophils and pathogenic bacteria. In this study, we aimed to analyze the mechanism of aggravation of pneumonia caused by resistant pneumococci in vivo, which is still unclear in detail, and to establish a basis for the treatment of pneumonia caused by resistant bacteria. Specifically, after establishing a lung-infected mouse strain with resistant pneumococci, we comprehensively identified both the resistant bacteria and mouse molecular groups in the alveoli using the iTRAQ-MS/MS method. The dynamics of the reaction were analyzed in detail using a multi-molecule simultaneous analysis device. We then selected molecules involved in the aggravation of pneumonia as therapeutic targets, and selected antibacterial agents that specifically control only the pathogenic factors of resistant pneumococci.

Free Research Field

口腔細菌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢社会の到来および薬剤耐性菌の増加により，誤嚥性肺炎や肺炎の患者数・死亡者数が急増している．そして，現行の肺炎球菌ワクチンには30%未満の防御効果しかないことが，最新知見で明らかとなっている．さらには，切札の抗菌薬も奏効しないことが世界的に報告されつつある．そこで，数年前から厚生労働省は，周術期患者の口腔清掃に保険点数を新設し，誤嚥性肺炎の予防を図る取組を推進している．しかしながら，歯ブラシ等による口腔清掃以外の誤嚥性肺炎や薬剤耐性肺炎球菌への対応は国内外で進んでおらず，国民健康の観点から，薬剤耐性肺炎球菌を制御する新たな基礎研究や創薬研究が必須と考えた．