Yamako Go, PhD | University of Miyazaki; Chosa Etsuo, MD, PhD
Competition Sponsor: Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
Awardee Year: 2025
This project aims to develop an innovative platform technology by engineering bacteriophage capsids to carry diverse genetic cassettes, enabling novel applications in antibacterial therapy, pathogen detection, and vaccine development. Our approach introduces precision antimicrobial modalities—such as CRISPR-Cas-guided bacterial targeting, surface-display-based specificity, and temperature-sensitive nanoparticle integration—that effectively address intractable pathogens including drug-resistant bacteria, intracellular pathogens, and biofilm-forming species.
Unlike conventional antibiotics, this technology selectively eliminates pathogenic bacteria while preserving commensal microbiota, significantly reducing adverse effects in elderly patients, particularly those with frailty, immunosuppression, or polypharmacy. Additionally, we are developing an amplification-free, rapid gene detection system that enables on-site diagnosis in home and community healthcare settings, supporting early infection control. The platform also includes a safe and cost-effective phage-based vaccine system for enhanced preventive medicine.
Importantly, these technologies are highly compatible with home-based care and telemedicine, potentially reducing the burden of hospital visits for elderly individuals. By enabling localized, precise, and accessible medical interventions, this project has the potential to mitigate social challenges such as isolation-related mortality and healthcare disparities. Overall, it lays the foundation for next-generation antimicrobial strategies tailored to super-aged societies, contributing to extended healthy life expectancy and improved quality of life (QoL) among older adults.