Functional analysis of Safford virus receptor candidate genes identified by CRISPR screening

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07045
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 49060:Virology-related
• Research Institution: Kanazawa Medical University
• Principal Investigator: OKUWA Takako 金沢医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (20460347)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Saffold virus / 感染受容体 / CRISPRスクリーニング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have previously selected Saffold virus (SAFV) receptor candidate genes by genome-wide knockout screening using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Among these candidate genes, we found that heparan sulfate (HS) is important for SAFV infection based on analysis of genes involved in HS biosynthesis. Furthermore, to identify SAFV receptors that were thought to exist in addition to HS, we generated an HS-deficient HeLa cell line and performed a CRISPR screening using this cell line. We identified SAFV receptors other than HS among the candidate genes selected in this screening.

Free Research Field

ウイルス学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

SAFVは上気道炎、胃腸炎、手足口病様疾患、無菌性髄膜炎、脳炎、膵炎などの患者検体から検出されていることから、多様な疾患の原因になると考えられるが、これらの疾患がどのようにして引き起こされるのかは解明されていない。本研究では、SAFVの感染に重要な受容体を同定した。受容体分子の発現分布からSAFVの組織親和性が明らかになり、その組織の細胞株を用いてSAFVの高感度な検出・分離が可能となるだけでなく、感染細胞の解析により、SAFVの詳細な病原性発現の分子機構の解明に繋がることが期待される。