Department of Parasitology
Infectious Diseases are still a huge menace to human health and continue unabated in tropical areas under conditions of poverty and the unique natural and social environments. Many parasitic diseases infect humans for long periods of time without killing them, giving rise to tremendous social and/or economic loss. We would like to develop deep insight into parasitic diseases and the surrounding factors from various points of view through both field and laboratory studies. Our goal is to contribute to new knowledge and to provide
an enthusiastic environment for the training of the
future generation of investigators.
Members
- Professor Shinjiro Hamano
- Associate Professor Kanji Watanabe
- Associate Professor Yoshinori Mitsui
- Graduate Student Chikako Shimokawa
- Graduate Student Mieko Akaba
- Technologist Mitsumasa Miura
- Technician Satomi Tominaga
- Technician Fumie Hara
- Technician Masako Hayashida
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Activities
Target diseases of our studies
We have been carrying out both field and laboratory studies on several of the most important helminthic diseases, including schistosomiasis, filariasis and intestinal helminthiasis and on important but neglected protozoan diseases such as amoebiasis, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis.
1) Schistosomiasis
Since 1981, the research project on Schistosoma haematobium has been carried out in Kwale, Kenya, in cooperation with Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).
We examined cercarial concentration of S. haematobium in natural water and the ecology of Bulinus globosus, an intermediate host of S. haematobium, and then tried to prevent transmission through snail control.
Inhabitants’ water contact and their knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) about the infection have also been studied, and we have made great efforts on the spread of knowledge about health and hygeine as well as supplying piped water.
We developed and modified methods for diagnosis of schistosomiasis, for example, urine ELISA, modified COPT and used urinary reagent strips, and have been investigating the prevalence of urinary problems, prevalence of bladder cancer and liver fibrosis, and morbidity using ultrasound in the community.
In the laboratory, we have been maintained S. mansoni，S. haematobium, and several spices of intermediate snails.
We have elucidated
i) the regulatory mechanism of swimming behavior of miracidia and
ii) the penetrating mechanisms of cercariae into skin.
Currently, we are developing
iii) a new strategy for control of schistosomiasis by releasing huge number of decoy snakes, and have just started
iv) to elucidate Th2 initiation mechanism during Schistosomiasis.
2) Filariasis
A research project on filariasis was carried out in Kwale, Kenya, in cooperation with KEMRI between 1990 and 1996. Transmission potential and morbidity were studied. Mass-chemotherapy with combination of DEC and NaHCO3 was evaluated. In the laboratory, Brugia malayi, B. pahangi and the vector mosquito, Aedes aegypti have been maintained for many years. We have screened a panel of plant extracts for antifilarial activity and developed a simple and sensitive method for determination of serum concentration of ivermectin (IVM) and diethylcarbamazine (DEC). We were the first to report that infective larvae of B. pahangi show chemotaxis to serum.
3) Amoebiasis, Leishmaniasis etc.
Genetic epidemiology and cohort studies on amoebiasis and leishmaniasis are carried out in cooperation with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh（ICDDR, B.）and the University of Virginia. Field sites include Dhaka and rural areas of Bangladesh. In addition to genetic factors, we aim to elucidate various environmental factors that determine and/or influence the outcome of the infection. In the laboratory, we study host defense mechanisms against Leishmania major, L. donovani and Trypanosoma cruzi, and in the process, have elucidated the function of the IL-12 cytokine family such as IL-27/WSX-1 during infection. After we developed animal models of intestinal amoebiasis together with Prof. Houpt at University of Virginia, we are now devoting ourselves to the study of pathogenesis of Entamoeba histolytica and host defense mechanisms to E. histolytica.
