Study of pathogenic mechanism regulated by virus-derived noncoding RNA

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26660220
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Veterinary medical science
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: YOSHII Kentaro 北海道大学, (連合)獣医学研究科, 准教授 (50421988)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: フラビウイルス / 脳炎 / ノンコーディングRNA / 非翻訳領域 / ダニ媒介性脳炎ウイルス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Flaviviruses include many clinically important zoonotic pathogens, but little is known about the pathogenic mechanism. In our previous study, we showed that the 3’-untranslated region (UTR) is involved in the pathogenicity of the strains of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). In this study, to investigate the detailed function of the 3’-UTR, we constructed recombinant TBEV with partial deletions in the variable region of the 3’-UTR. In a mouse model, the partial deletions drastically increased the virulence of the virus, with no effect on virus multiplication in mouse brain. These data suggested that the conformational structure of the variable region is associated with the pathogenicity of TBEV. These findings provide a foundation for further research to identify the pathogenic mechanisms of TBEV.

Free Research Field

獣医公衆衛生学