Hokkaido University · Medicine
Professor Chie Nakajima's research lab specializes in microbial pathogenesis and molecular parasitology, with a focus on Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) pathogens and tick salivary gland biology. The lab investigates the genetic diversity, transmission dynamics, and host-pathogen interactions of MTC members such as *Mycobacterium orygis*, particularly in animal and zoonotic reservoirs. Additionally, the lab explores novel bioactive molecules from tick salivary glands, including thrombin-inhibiting proteins like chimadanin, with potential applications in anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory therapeutics. Their work combines molecular typing, functional genomics, and protein characterization to address infectious disease challenges in endemic regions like Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Mycobacterium orygis, commonly known as the oryx bacillus and a newly proposed Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex subspecies, was isolated from 18 cattle in a dairy farm and two captured rhesus monkeys in a zoo in Bangladesh. All the infected animals had tuberculosis lesions in their lungs, suggesting transmission and infection with M. orygis by an airborne route. The 20 isolates were analysed using a range of conventional and molecular typing methods, and RD-deletion typing and sequencing of se
A cDNA library was constructed from salivary glands of partially-fed adult female Haemaphysalis longicornis (hard tick). Randomly selected clones were sequenced and a total of 633 sequences were analyzed by bioinformatic programs. The sequences were grouped into 213 clusters, with each cluster being considered to be composed of mRNAs derived from the same gene or closely related genes. About 36% of the mRNA sequences showed significant similarity to known proteins in the non-redundant protein da
A novel thrombin inhibitory protein coding gene was identified from a cDNA library derived from salivary gland of partially-fed Haemaphysalis longicornis (hard tick). The gene encoded a 93-amino acid protein, designated chimadanin, which had a signal peptide sequence and was predicted to be a secretory protein. It showed no similarity to any other previously identified proteins or conserved domain sequences. The gene was expressed during blood feeding and suggested to be expressed mainly in the
The MTC-discrimination multiplex PCR (MTCD-MPCR) developed in this study showed high specificity and was thought to be very useful as a routine test because of its simplicity. In the current survey, all the 350 MTC isolates obtained from Bangladesh TB patients were determined as M. tuberculosis and no other MTC were detected. This result suggested the general TB treatment regimen including pyrazinamide to be the first choice in Bangladesh.
MDR-MTB strains of the Beijing genotype might be spreading in Myanmar and present a major challenge to TB control in this country.
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