A novel trial approach for gene-manipulation of tsetse fly

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26670197
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Parasitology (including sanitary zoology)
• Research Institution: Kobe Tokiwa University (2015-2017); Tokyo Medical and Dental University (2014)
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Takashi 神戸常盤大学, 保健科学部, 教授 (70305530)
• Research Collaborator: Alexander Egyir-Yawson Ghana Atomic Energy Commission
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: ツェツェバエ / ディフェンシン / アフリカトリパノソーマ原虫

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) transmit African trypanosomiasis. In order to effectively control the disease, development of a novel gene manipulating method is expected, which generates the tsetse fly refractory to African trypanosomes. For that purpose, Glossina insectary was firstly set up and preliminary anesthetic system of Glossina was established. Then, anti-microorganism activity of Glossina palpalis defensin（GpDef）was analyzed. The results showed that the molecule possessed a specific anti-trypnosomal activity.
Initial idea of injecting DNA molecules into G. palpalis spermatheca was not successful. Thus in order to see the feasibility of establishing future gene modification system, the following analyses were carried out: a motility and exosome-related molecule of African trypanosome was analyzed and Glossina genome was surveyed in detail for polydnavirus.

Free Research Field

分子細胞生物学