Examination of anti-viral activity of novel phage-derived nucleosides

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24791025
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Infectious disease medicine
• Research Institution: Kochi University
• Principal Investigator: UCHIYAMA Jumpei 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系, 助教 (20574619)
• Research Collaborator: GAMOH Keiji 高知大学, 教育研究部総合科学系, 教授 (90204817)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ファージ / 感染症 / 核酸 / ウイルス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Nucleic acid analogs, which the structure of the nucleoside is based, is used in chemotherapy against viral infections. Some of the bacteriophages (phages) have unique genomic DNAs. In this study, we searched novel nucleic acids from phage genomic DNA, which can become drug discovery platform for anti-viral drugs.
The phage genomic DNAs were analyzed using LC-MS. As a result, most of the phages were revealed to have normal genomic DNAs. On the other hand, Staphylococcus aureus phage S6 DNA was revealed to contain uracil in place of thymine as a nucleic acid base. Unfortunately, it did not lead to the discovery of novel nucleic acids that can be drug discovery platform for anti-viral drugs in the present study.

Free Research Field

細菌学