Structure and function of an improving factor in hippocampal impairment originated from the silkworm-parasitic fungus (Paecilomyces tenuipes) and practical use for human brain

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23228001
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Applied entomology
• Research Institution: Iwate University
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Koichi 岩手大学, その他部局, 特任教授 (20003791)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): GORYO Masanobu 岩手大学, 農学部, 教授 (80153774) ; SHINADA Tetsuro 大阪市立大学, 理学研究科, 教授 (30271513) ; TERAYAMA Yasuo 岩手医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (70146596) ; YOSHIOKA Yoshichika 大阪大学, 学内共同利用施設等, 教授 (00174897)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 昆虫利用 / 機能開発 / 有用物質生産 / 養蚕イノベーション / 病理解剖 / 生物有機化学 / 脳神経 / 脳神経疾患

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A novel and biologically active molecule originated from the extract of entomopathogenic fungus (Paecilomyces tenuipes = Isaria japonica) was identified as a promising factor which is reponsible for improving astrogliosis in the CA3 are of hippocampus of aged mice.
This finding led us to the understanding of molecular mechanism: we found that the agent enhances astrocyte proliferation and significantly activates astrocyte-derived NGF and VGF genes, and in primary cultured neurons it accelerates the neurocyte dendrite formation. The in vitro multipotency stimulated us to evaluate the effects of oral administration of the agent on brain improvement in senscense-acclerated mice and preclinical trials with the oral administration of I. japonica powder for Alzheimer's dementia (AD). These results suggest that the agent and I. japonica powder are a promising astrocyte-targeting drug and new functional food for treating AD.

Free Research Field

昆虫バイオテクノロジー