Analysis of genetic characters relating to transmissibility and pathogenesis in bovine leukemia virus wild-type strains

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06410
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42020:Veterinary medical science-related
• Research Institution: Azabu University
• Principal Investigator: Murakami Hironobu 麻布大学, 獣医学部, 講師 (60620929)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 牛伝染性リンパ腫ウイルス / 伝播性 / 病原性 / 変異 / 感染性分子クローン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Specific genetic variations associated with viral traits were analyzed to be applied for the control of bovine leukemia virus (BLV). Viral productivity and transformability in vitro, which are related to transmissibility and pathogenicity, respectively, were analyzed. These results were shown different specific polymorphisms related to transmissibility and pathogenicity. Next, transmissibility and pathogenicity-related genome region in BLV were analyzed using chimeric viruses. The above both data suggested that the nucleotide 175 in the LTR region would be associated with transmissibility, while the pathogenicity is influenced by multiple genetic polymorphisms. Further study demonstrated that the same gene expression pattern was detected in each group such as mock, low, and high pathogenicity strains regardless of different genetic character. Therefore, the transmissibility and pathogenicity could be estimated by viral genetic characters and host gene expression levels, respectively.

Free Research Field

分子ウイルス学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

牛伝染性リンパ腫ウイルスは日本国内に蔓延しているウイルスであり、経済的損失が拡大しているため、その制御が非常に重要である。本研究では、感染拡大リスクが高い高伝播性株である175C株を同定したため、簡便な検査が可能となった。一方、病原性に強く関連する変異は認められなかったが、強毒株感染において特異的な宿主反応が認められたことから、宿主因子を標的とした簡便な検査法の確立が有用であることが考えられた。上記の結果は、BLVの感染拡大および発症リスクを簡便に検査することが可能であることを示していることから、BLV感染制御の新たな手法を提示する基礎的知見になりうる。