Verification of technology for comprehensive detection of pathogens using nanopore sequencers

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07375
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52010:General internal medicine-related
• Research Institution: Saitama Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Maeda Takuya 埼玉医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (20383763)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 樽本 憲人 埼玉医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (00746993)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 網羅的遺伝子検査 / COVID-19 / 遺伝子解析 / MinION

Outline of Final Research Achievements

During the SARS-CoV-2 infection, we comprehensively analyzed COVID-19 patient specimens to determine the effect of co-infection with other pathogens on pathogenesis. As a result, viral co-infection was not detected in all severely and moderately ill COVID-19 patients, and also the possibility that this played a role in the severity of the disease was ruled out. Twenty-four bacterial infections were identified in 16 of 42 severely and moderately ill COVID-19 patients, but none of them could be an exacerbating factor for pneumonia. This system also contributed to the elucidation of novel antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. Analysis of Dysgonomonas capnocytophagoides identified from blood cultures using Minion Flongle showed the involvement of a novel class B MBL gene, blaDPC-1.

Free Research Field

臨床検査医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

感染症を早期に診断し、適切な治療法を選択するためには、なにより病原体の正確な診断が重要である。一方、従来の検査技術では、想起される病原体に関する生物学的もしくは遺伝学的な情報がなければ、正しい診断は不可能であった。ところが、本研究で検証した網羅的な遺伝子増幅技術、および、ゲノムシーケンス技術を臨床検査に応用することで、事前の情報が無い新規病原体が覚知でき、新規の抗菌薬耐性菌の同定も実現できる。本研究では、医療機関において実際の臨床検体を活用し、これらのパイプラインの実用性を実証したことに意義があるといえる。