Mechanisms of Severe Leptospira Infection Focusing on Bacterial Dynamics and Histopathological Changes in the Host

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22942
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0904:Internal medicine of the bio-information integration and related fields
• Research Institution: University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
• Principal Investigator: Miyahara Satoshi 産業医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (50878329)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: レプトスピラ症 / ワイル病 / 急性腎障害 / 慢性腎臓病 / 動物モデル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we could successfully cause both mild and severe forms of infection in hamsters using Leptospira interrogans strain L495. The comparison of the two models suggests that the delay in the acute phase of antibody titers is associated with acute kidney injury and survival, and may be one of the factors determining the severity of the disease. Analysis of the kidneys of the mild disease model showed that the tubular damage that occurred during the acute phase persists during the chronic phase, causing chronic kidney injury. It was suggested that leptospirosis may be a contributing factor to chronic renal failure in the tropics. Furthermore, the gastrointestinal lesions of leptospirosis were reported, indicating that stool may be a possible source of infection.

Free Research Field

細菌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

レプトスピラ症において腎機能障害は急性期の死因となりうるだけでなく、慢性腎障害として患者の長期的な生活の質の低下、医療経済的負担に関与する重要な臓器障害である。しかし、腎障害を予測する因子がなかったため、予防や治療介入が進んでこなかった。本研究により、レプトスピラ症における急性腎障害や慢性腎蔵病の病態の一端が明らかとなり、腎障害を予測するマーカーや治療法の開発につながる成果を上げることができた。