Antimalarial screening for microbial culture broth library

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07106
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 47050:Environmental and natural pharmaceutical resources-related
• Research Institution: Kitasato University
• Principal Investigator: Iwatsuki Masato 北里大学, 感染制御科学府, 教授 (70353464)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: マラリア / 微生物培養液 / 微生物創薬 / 新規化合物

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We screened microbial cultured broths for antimalarial activity using Plasmodium falciparum strain, and selected three filamentous fungal and one actinomycete strains. Two new cyclic peptides (named Koshidacins) from FKR-0651 and two new nitrogen-containing compounds from FKI-9521 were discovered. We also isolated and determined new antimalarial compounds containing a pyridone ring from another filamentous fungus and two new macrolide compounds from an actinomycete strain. These compounds strongly inhibited the in vitro growth of multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain.

Free Research Field

天然物化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

得られた創薬シード化合物は熱帯病治療薬の開発に特化した非営利団体Medicines for Malaria Ventureの支援によって国際的な開発研究へと展開していくことでマラリア治療薬の開発に繋がることが期待される。開発されたマラリア治療薬は人的被害を軽減することで開発途上国の保健衛生の向上に繋がり、人類の福祉として国際貢献に資することが期待される。