Analyzing the mechanism of bacterial translocation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa via the intestinal tract

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07500
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 49050:Bacteriology-related
• Research Institution: Kagawa Prefectural College of Health Sciences
• Principal Investigator: SUEZAWA Chigusa 香川県立保健医療大学, 保健医療学部, 講師 (90331868)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 奥田 潤 香川県立保健医療大学, 保健医療学部, 教授 (90334276)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 緑膿菌 / Caco-2細胞層透過活性 / 腸管経由内因性血液感染 / fruK遺伝子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We previously identified genes involved in the penetration activity via the Caco-2 cell monolayers of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa); among these, we focused on the fruK gene. In a penetration assay using Caco-2 cell monolayers, the fruK mutant showed reduced penetration activity compared to the wild-type strain, whereas the fruK gene complementation strain recovered its penetration activity. Motility is a known virulence factor of P. aeruginosa; hence, a motility assay was performed, which showed no significant difference between the wild-type and fruK mutant strains. However, RNA sequencing analysis revealed differences in gene expression between the wild-type strain and fruK mutants. Additionally, an operon including the fruK gene was suggested be involved in the penetration activity via the Caco-2 cell monolayers of P. aeruginosa.

Free Research Field

細菌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果は、緑膿菌fruK遺伝子機能の不活性化は緑膿菌の腸管上皮細胞層透過を抑制し、緑膿菌によって引き起こされる腸管経由内因性血液感染を予防する可能性を示唆するものである。緑膿菌fruK遺伝子機能の不活性化に効果のある遺伝子やタンパク質などを発見することにより、緑膿菌による腸管経由内因性血液感染を予防する抗菌薬に代わる予防策につながる可能性がある。