The search for the candidate molecule for the vaccine to control a wide range of ectoparasite species of chickens

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H03137
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42020:Veterinary medical science-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: OHASHI Kazuhiko 北海道大学, 獣医学研究院, 特任教授 (90250498)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 村田 史郎 北海道大学, 獣医学研究院, 准教授 (10579163) ; 今内 覚 北海道大学, 獣医学研究院, 教授 (40396304)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ワクモ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

For the development of a "universal" vaccine, which can broadly and effectively control different mite species, such as poultry red mites (PRM) of the chicken, the search for candidate molecules for the vaccine was made by comprehensive analysis of expressed genes using RNA-SEQ. Several molecules, such as ferritin 2, were identified, and these molecules showed cross-reactivity among the mite species. Next, recombinant proteins derived from each mite species were prepared for each of the candidate molecules identified, and antisera were produced by immunizing chickens with those recombinant proteins. The in vitro feeding assay showed that a significant decrease in survival rate was observed in PRMs which were fed with the antisera compared to the control-fed PRMs.

Free Research Field

獣医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ワクモやトリサシダニなどは、鳥類の代表的な外部寄生虫であり、養鶏産業に大きな経済的被害をもたらしている。現在、その防除には主に駆虫剤が使用されているが、薬剤耐性個体の出現や駆虫剤残存による衛生環境の悪化などが問題となっており、抗ダニワクチンなど新規防除法の開発が必要となっている。本研究で同定した分子は、有効なワクチン抗原として、ワクチン接種鶏で吸血し異なるダニ種の個体に致死的に作用して、鶏舎内の寄生虫個体数を持続的に減少できるダニ種横断的な新規“ユニバーサル”ワクチンの開発に応用可能であり、養鶏産業の持続的な発展に寄与できる。