2012 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
The mechanisms of recognition ofStreptococcus pneumoniae by innate lymphocytes
| Project/Area Number |
22689031
|
|---|
| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
|
| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
|---|
| Research Field |
Infectious disease medicine
|
|---|
| Research Institution | National Institute of Infectious Diseases |
|---|
Principal Investigator |
KINJO Yuki 国立感染症研究所, 生物活性物質部, 室長 (20570831)
|
|---|
| Project Period (FY) |
2010 – 2012
|
| Keywords | 感染症 / 内科 / 免疫学 / 細菌 / 脂質 |
|---|
| Research Abstract |
Pneumonia is the third leading cause of death in Japan. The aim of this research project is to elucidate the mechanisms of host defense against Streptococcus pneumonia, the leading causative agent of pneumonia. We have found that a lymphocyte called NKT cell detects bacterial glycolipid antigen rapidly after S. pneumonia infection. Our data show that the recognition of glycolipid antigen by NKT cell is important for bacterial clearance. Furthermore, human NKT cells also respond to S. pneumonia glycolipid similar to mouse NKT cells. These data indicate that the recognition of bacterial glycolipid antigen by NKT cells plays an important role in the host defense against S. pneumonia infection.
|
