Research for influenza aggravation factors focusing on lower respiratory bacteria in ARDS patients

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K17468
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 54030:Infectious disease medicine-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Nishioka Keisuke 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (50790713)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: インフルエンザ / ARDS / 細菌叢

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have previously reported that the balance of specific bacterial genera may contribute to the exacerbation of systemic inflammation in ARDS patients. In this study, we cultured bacteria using ARDS patients samples and identified bacterial species that enhance or suppress influenza virus replication in vitro. These activities were found to be inactivated by heat treatment at 100 °C, suggesting that they were proteins. Bacterial species that have the effect of enhancing and suppressing viral replication are associated with exacerbation and suppression of inflammation in ARDS patients, and identification of these proteins may contribute to the prevention of influenza aggravation and the onset of ARDS.

Free Research Field

ウイルス学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

毎年多くのインフルエンザ患者が見られるが重症化すると多くのケースで致死率が高いARDSを続発する。ARDSは対症療法が行われているが未だ治療成績は良くない。そのためARDS重症化に関与する因子に加え、ARDS発症関連因子の同定はARDS治療に貢献できると考えられる。本研究の成果は、特定の細菌種のタンパクが重症化及び予防に関与している可能性があり、今後タンパク同定を行うことで新規の治療法確立へ貢献できる可能性がある。