Search for novel antibiotics that specifically kills Gram-negative bacteria.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K10408
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 58020:Hygiene and public health-related: including laboratory approach
• Research Institution: Kansai University (2023); Kindai University (2021-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Sasaki Miho 関西大学, 化学生命工学部, 准教授 (70581031)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 新規抗生物質 / 菌の単離 / グラム陰性菌 / 薬剤耐性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The emergence of drug-resistant bacteria and new infectious disease-causing bacteria is a worldwide threat, and effective countermeasures are needed. In this study, we attempted to isolate antibiotic-producing bacteria that exhibit antibacterial activity selective for Gram-negative bacteria from insects and plants, in addition to soil and environmental water, which have often been used as sources of isolation. We were able to isolate several antibiotic-producing bacteria that showed antibacterial activity only against Escherichia coli, or E. coli and Salmonella sp.. The results of antibacterial activity tests using 1,008 strains isolated from the pond indicated that 8 strains showed selective antibacterial activity against E. coli. These antibiotics produced by these strains are likely to be antibacterial proteins.

Free Research Field

応用微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年、新しい作用機序を示す、副作用が小さい、薬剤耐性菌が出現しにくいなどの有用な特徴をもった抗菌物質が天然物からほとんど見つかっていない。また、新規抗生物質を生産する細菌の一般的なスクリーニング方法では、既知の物質や生産菌が高頻度で単離されてしまう。本研究では、昆虫を中心にした生物の共生細菌をターゲットにし、初期スクリーニングの培養条件を工夫することで、大腸菌に選択的な抗菌活性を示す抗生物質生産菌を複数単離することができた。得られた知見は、新たな抗生物質生産菌を効率よく選抜できる手法につながると考えられる。