AIKAWA Chihiro Associate Professor
ThemeElucidation of host-specific pathogenic mechanisms of bacteria
Belongs
Research Department/Department of Veterinary Medicine/Division of Veterinary Sciences/Section of Applied Veterinary SciencesDiagnostic Center for Animal Health and Food Safety/Bacteriology Laboratory| Field | Bacteriology, Cell Biology |
| Keyword | Salmonella, Survival strategies in host cells |
Introduction
Salmonella spp. have been extensively studied using Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (ST). When ST invades intestinal epithelial cells, small vacuoles called Salmonella-containing vacuoles (SCV) are quickly formed. Most Salmonella proliferate within the SCV, but a small proportion translocate into the cytoplasm by rupture of the SCV. Half of those are digested and eliminated by xenophagy (autophagy), but the other half proliferate locally and explosively. This localized hyper replication induces pyroptosis. On the other hand, Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinurum (SG), which is also classified as a systemic Salmonella, is known to cause acute fatal septicemia in its avian host. SG, as well as ST, possesses virulence factors involved in cell invasion, and thus appears to invade host cells; however, many of the intracellular events, including SCV formation, remain unknown. Therefore, I would like to conduct research with the goal of visualizing the intracellular dynamics of SG.
List of current research topics
Survival strategies of Salmonella enterica serotype Gallinarium in host cells.
| Related industries | Poultry Industry, Animal Health and Public Health |
| Affiliated academic society | Japanese Society for Bacteriology |
| Academic degree | Doctor of Life Science |
| Self introduction |
I am from Tokyo, Japan. I have been mainly involved in the elucidation of pathogenic mechanisms of Streptococcus pyogenes and the development of therapeutic agents (compounds and antibodies). My hobby is camping. |
| Room address | General Research Building I |
| Room number | S2102-3 |
| Mail address | caikawa 
obihiro.ac.jp |
