Activities

Intracellular Dynamics Analysis for Highly Pathogenic Viruses

High-resolution microscopy （e.g. live cell imaging） is used to visualize the life cycle of viruses in infected cells and to elucidate the mechanisms of virus particle formation.

Molecular Epidemiology of Arboviruses

We conduct molecular epidemiological analyses of dengue virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, chikungunya virus, novel coronaviruses, and other viruses isolated in Asia, Africa, and South America to clarify virus migration and evolution, revealing viral factors related to disease severity and expansion.

Research on Therapeutic Drugs/Vaccine Development Using Reverse Genetics

Using reverse genetics, recombinant viruses are constructed to identify viral factors regulating viral proliferation in cells. Comparative analysis of viral pathogenicity in animals is conducted to establish the basis for the development of new therapeutic agents and vaccines.

Development of Rapid Diagnostic Assays for Infectious Diseases

We aim to contribute to the improvement of public health in Asia, Africa, and South America through the construction of novel diagnostic methods for viral infections, such as PCR, LAMP, immunochromatography, and ELISA.

Activities as a WHO Collaborating Center

The department is designated as a WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Tropical Viral Diseases since 1993. Currently, our department has been re-designated as a center for Tropical and Emerging Virus Diseases. The center collaborates with WHO in training WHO fellows from many developing countries and deploying experts as WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Tropical and Emerging Viral Diseases. Since March 2020, the laboratory has been working as a WHO Reference Centre for COVID-19.