2023 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Uncovering the genetic factors that contribute to invasiveness and pathogen transmission of ticks
| Project/Area Number |
23KF0178
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| Research Institution | Hokkaido University |
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Principal Investigator |
中尾 亮 北海道大学, 獣医学研究院, 准教授 (50633955)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
KELAVA SAMUEL 北海道大学, 獣医学研究院, 外国人特別研究員
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| Project Period (FY) |
2023-11-15 – 2026-03-31
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| Keywords | Evolution / Genetics / Parasitology / Tick / Transcriptomics / Vector |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
This project is aimed at uncovering the genetic factors that lead to tick pathogenesis and invasiveness by employing a genomics approach to characterize study tick genotypes and their microbiomes. Sampling of ticks was done in Hokkaido with plans for sampling in other regions of Japan. Moreover, sequence data has been provided by our collaborators in Australia and South Africa. At this time, we are in the preparation of three manuscripts for publication in the upcoming months as a result of this work. These papers encompass topics relating to the phylogeny of ticks from the Rhipicephalus group as well as the systematics of the soft tick family. The scope of this project may expand as more data becomes available through this work and our collaborators.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Since my arrival, progress has proceeded as anticipated. The host laboratory has extended a warm welcome and has generously provided ample resources for research endeavors, catering to both my immediate interests and avenues for exploring new fields. There has been time to work on both ongoing research and to investigate and develop new potential research directions. Collaboration with researchers from other countries has been beneficial and many new manuscripts may be published in the near future with this co-operation. Current manuscripts in preparation are proceeding at an acceptable pace with most data analysis complete or in near completion and writing in progress. Productive planning of upcoming research projects to potentially expand on current research ideas.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Our ongoing project involves the collection of ticks from diverse regions in Japan and abroad, including Australia. We gather specimens from field surveys in Japan and utilize available samples from Australian museum collections. We conduct genome sequencing of ticks obtained from Japan and a database of ticks housed in Australian museums. This approach aims to identify tick species, tick-borne pathogens, and microbiome. Our upcoming plans include initiating vector competence assessments of Japanese ticks for medically significant viruses prevalent in Japan. We aim to identify the most competent transmission vectors among ticks, informing potential strategies for disease control.
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| Causes of Carryover |
次年度使用額が生じた理由：マダニからのSNPs情報抽出のための条件検討に予想以上に時間を要したため。
使用計画：条件確定の後に、SNPs情報抽出のため試薬代に充てる。
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