Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases
Emerging infectious diseases are infectious diseases whose incidence in humans have increased in the past 20 years and threaten to increase in the near future. We are working on the basic research to develop and produce countermeasures against emerging infectious diseases, especially viral hemorrhagic fevers and influenza.
Members
- Professor Jiro Yasuda
- Assistant Professor Yohei Kurosaki
- Assistant Professor Shuzo Urata
- Postdoctoral Fellow Eri Takeda
- Postdoctoral Fellow Mahomi Ono
- Assistant Tomomi Kamiyama
- COE Technician Asami Fujii
- Graduate Student Chisato Narahara
Activities
Analyses of replication mechanisms of highly pathogenic viruses
In infected cells, the viruses replicate using various cellular machinery and release a large number of progeny virions. Our interests are to clarify the molecular mechanisms of virus replication in host cells. We are currently analyzing the molecular interactions between viral proteins and cellular factors in virus infected cells. Especially, we are focusing on highly pathogenic viruses, such as Ebola, Marburg, Lassa and Influenza viruses.
Development of novel antiviral strategies
To establish novel antiviral strategies against viral hemorrhagic fevers and influenza, we are identifying the cellular factors which have antiviral activity and analyzing the molecular mechanisms of their antiviral action. We will also start high-throughput screening of organic and chemical compound libraries for antiviral drug discovery against viral hemorrhagic fevers.
Development of detection methods for highly pathogenic viruses
In case of outbreak of emerging infectious diseases, rapid and accurate diagnosis is essential to control infection and to prevent further transmission. We have developed novel diagnostic assay for emerging viral diseases.
Studies on endogenous retroviruses
Recently, it has been reported that a portion of live attenuated vaccines for pets, which were produced using mammalian cell lines, were contaminated with infectious endogenous retrovirus. Furthermore, in therapeutic use of animal cells, tissues, and organs derived from pigs as donors for xenotransplants, a major international concern is the possibility of cross-species transmission of infectious porcine endogenous retrovirus from animal donor to immunosuppressed human transplant patients. To reduce the risk induced by endogenous retroviruses in vaccine preparation and xenotransplantation, we are developing the strategies to regulate the production of endogenous retroviruses from cells.
