4D imaging of brain and the immune system during cerebral malaria

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25293100
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Parasitology (including sanitary zoology)
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Coban Cevayir 大阪大学, 免疫学フロンティア研究センター, 教授 (00397712)
• Research Collaborator: 川合 覚 獨協医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 ; 吉岡 芳親 大阪大学, 免疫学フロンティア研究センター生体機能イメージング, 教授 ; 審良 静男 大阪大学, 免疫学フロンティア研究センター, 教授 ; 堀井 俊宏 大阪大学微生物病研究所, 分子原虫学分野, 教授 ; 石井 健 大阪大学, 免疫学フロンティア研究センターワクチン学, 教授
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 感染症 / 免疫学 / マラリア / Olfactory Bulb / Plasmodium bergheiANKA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The dysfunction of BBB is the main feature of cerebral malaria; however, little is known how it occurs. We have shown by ultra-high field MRI and multiphoton microscopy that the olfactory bulb is physically and functionally damaged by Plasmodium parasites. The trabecular small capillaries comprising the olfactory bulb show parasite accumulation and cell occlusion followed by microbleeding, events associated with high fever and cytokine storm. Early detection of olfaction loss and blockade of pathological cell recruitment may offer potential therapeutic strategies.

Free Research Field

寄生虫学(含衛生動物学)