Search for new drug seeds by co-culture method that mimics the growth environment of microorganisms

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K16024
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 47050:Environmental and natural pharmaceutical resources-related
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: Hara Yasumasa 千葉大学, 大学院薬学研究院, 助教 (10824625)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 共培養 / 微生物資源 / 培養抽出物ライブラリー構築 / 土壌由来放線菌 / 放線菌Nocardia

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we searched for new natural products and bioactive natural products by using culture methods that mimics the growth environment of microorganisms such as interactions between microorganisms existing in the same soil, and interactions between animal cells (immune cells) and microorganisms including pathogenic microorganisms. As a result, we isolated new natural products with cell death-inducing and anti-inflammatory effects and several known natural products, and analyzed the mechanisms of action of bioactive natural products.

Free Research Field

天然物化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

微生物の天然物産生に関与する休眠状態の遺伝子を活性化することは、新規天然物を探索する上で重要であり、これまでに様々な手法が開発されてきた。本研究では、微生物の生育環境を模倣した培養により新規天然物を見出したことから、本手法が医薬シードに繋がる新規天然物や生物活性天然物を探索するための有用な手法の一つにつながることが期待される。