Comprehensive comparative genomic analysis of oral streptococci to explore the genetic characteristics of the pathogen causing infectious endocarditis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K16380
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 54030:Infectious disease medicine-related
• Research Institution: Kurume University
• Principal Investigator: Okuno Miki 久留米大学, 医学部, 講師 (30814462)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔レンサ球菌 / 比較ゲノム解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To gain insight into the pathogenesis of Infectious endocarditis and the development of prevention and treatment, I performed a comparative genomic analysis between the causative bacteria of infectious endocarditis and oral commensals. No phylogenetic bias was observed between the causative bacteria and oral commensals of both S. mutans and S. gordonii, and no genes were identified that were characteristic of the causative bacteria. It has been suggested that the factors involved in causing infectious endocarditis may not be the acquisition or loss of specific genes, but differences due to gene variants or regulatory regions of expression.

Free Research Field

比較ゲノム解析

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

感染性心内膜炎の発症率は3-7/10万人・年と推定されており、決して多くはないが、いったん発症すると重篤な転帰をたどり、手術や長期入院を要するために患者の負担が大きい疾患である。また、高齢者の罹患率が高いことから、超高齢化社会を迎える本邦では患者の増加が予想されており、発症メカニズムの解明や効果的な予防法の開発に取り組む必要がある。本研究は、そのための基盤となる起因菌のゲノム情報の整備および比較ゲノム解析を実施した。