Research Unit for Global Surveillance
Professor Naoaki Yokoyama
Bovine piroplasmosis (bovine theileriosis and babesiosis) caused by species of genera Babesia and Theileria, is characterized by fever and anemia. The disease usually results in severe economic losses in cattle industry worldwide. However, preventive and control measures against bovine piroplasmosis have often been ineffective. With an ultimate aim of minimizing the incidence of bovine piroplasmosis, we conduct research to 1) determine the current status of bovine piroplasmosis in Japan and other endemic countries; 2) identify tick vectors transmitting bovine Theileria, and thereby establish systematic tick-control measures; 3) determine immunological responses against Theileria infection in cattle and develop vaccine; 4) clarify the mechanisms by which Babesia invades erythrocytes with the objective of vaccine development; 5) establish effective techniques and tools to analyze the genetic polymorphism in vaccine candidate antigens; and 6) develop made-to-order type subunit vaccines effective in different endemic regions. To expedite our aim of eliminating bovine piroplasmosis, we maintain a strong international collaborative network and accept postgraduate students and young postdoctoral researchers for the development of human resources in countries where bovine piroplasmosis is endemic.
Epidemiological surveys (buffaloes in Thailand, cattle in Mongolia and Vietnam)
Associate Professor Shinya Fukumoto
Certain infectious diseases such as malaria, sleeping sickness, Japanese encephalitis, and filariasis are transmitted by arthropods. The transmission of these infectious diseases requires “vectors”. In other words, if the vector stage is cut off, infections of animals and humans can be avoided. Based on this concept, we raise the following questions: How do etiological agents behave within vectors? How do a vector and an etiological agent interact with each other? What are etiological agents to vectors in the first place? We are researching the items above in an effort to achieve the suppression of protozoan diseases by controlling the vector stage. We systematically integrate a wide range of information, from data generated by basic laboratory experiments to field research in endemic areas, as well as thoroughly analyzing unique life phenomena caused by the relationship between such etiological agents and vectors.
Assistant Professor Keisuke Suganuma
Trypanosomoses are endemic in many countries and affect both humans and animals. However, no effective control measures are available for this disease. We therefore aim to develop and establish effective control strategies for trypanosomoses.
Studies on developmental-stage conversion mechanisms. (Fig. 1)
Developmental-stage conversion (or cell differentiation) is essential for trypanosomes to parasitize mammalian hosts and vectors. Therefore, we aim to reveal the stage conversion mechanisms using gene manipulation technology, with the aim of developing new control strategies for trypanosomoses.
Global surveillance and establishment of new laboratory strains of trypanosomes. (Fig. 2)
We aim to establish effective control strategies for trypanosomoses in endemic countries based on field surveillance data. In addition, we intend to isolate and establish field strains of trypanosomes for further study.
Development of novel trypanocidal drugs.
We aim to find novel trypanocidal compounds by using in vitro drug screening systems and mouse models.
Fig. 1: GFP expressed transgenic Trypanosoma congolense (Suganuma et al., 2012 & 2013)
Fig. 2: Trypanosoma equiperdum isolated from Mongolia (IVM-t1 strain) (Suganuma et al., 2016) (Trypanosoma equiperdum)
International Cooperation Unit
Professor Shin-ichiro Kawazu
Malaria
We focus on oxidative stress responses, redox (oxidation/reduction) signals, and calcium signals in malaria protozoan cells. Living organisms adjust various physiological functions by altering the oxidation-reduction balance and calcium oscillation. We focus on “watching cells” and “imaging experiments” to understand the said systems and the roles of molecules that function in the systems, using malaria protozoa as a model organism.
Babesia
We are developing technology to manipulate genes using Babesia. So far, we have developed a foreign gene expression system (green fluorescent protein-expressing protozoa) and a gene knockout system, and we are currently trying to use live imaging to clarify the mechanism of the said protozoa’s growth and infiltration n the red cells and the vector tick.
Japanese bilharziasis
Japanese bilharziasis is a zoonotic disease that prevails in rural areas of Asian countries, and is closely related to rural health and sanitation and livestock sanitation. We conduct serum-epidemiological surveys using the newly developed ELISA protocol in regions of the Philippines where Japanese bilharziasis prevails, and conduct comprehensive epidemiological surveys including the survey on population genetics of the parasite and the search for reservoir hosts in endemic areas.
Professor Makoto Igarashi
Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease latently infecting 20% to 30% of the world’s population. Toxoplasma causes serious problems in immune-suppressed people such as HIV patients and the elderly as well as in congenitally infected infants. This laboratory is working on unraveling the mechanism of Toxoplasma’s parasitism in hosts.
Main Research Project
- Understanding Toxoplasma’s parasitism in host cells:
We aim to identify target molecules for new medicines by isolating molecules involved in Toxoplasma’s parasitism in host cells. - Understanding the transition process from acute to chronic Toxoplasma infection:
During the transition from an acute to a chronic infection Toxoplasma changes its life cycle from a propagation type to a cyst-forming type. By uncovering the mechanism of this change we aim to utilize it for vaccine development strategies.
Professor Noboru Inoue
Research Unit for Global Infection Control
Professor Xuenan Xuan
The main focus of this lab is to elucidate the host defense mechanisms against protozoan diseases, and to develop medical agents and recombinant vaccines that could efficiently stimulate the host protective immunity.
Main Reserch Projects
- Elucidation of the mechanism of hemolytic anemia caused by babesiosis.
- Analysis of the host protective immunity against babesiosis.
- Identification of genome-wide metabolic pathways and vaccine candidate molecules of Babesia parasites.
- Development of molecule- targeting treatments and recombinant vaccines against babesiosis.
- International epidemiological surveys of tick-borne protozoan diseases.
Associate Professor Masahito Asada
Babesia and Plasmodium parasites are intraerythrocytic apicomplexan protozoans which cause sever morbidity and mortality to the animals and humans in the world. These parasites invade into the host erythrocytes and extensively modify structural and mechanical properties of the erythrocytes. To find a way to control babesiosis and malaria, we are studying on invasion and host erythrocyte modification mechanisms of the parasites by using genome manipulation techniques. Furthermore, we are performing field epidemiology of protozoan diseases.
○ Mechanisms of parasite invasion into the erythrocyte
○ Mechanisms of erythrocyte modification by the parasites
○ Field epidemiology of protozoan diseases
