INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL MEDICINENAGASAKI UNIVERSITY
Through Scientiﬁc Discovery and its Application Solving the World Health Problem

JULY

2012

MISSION STATEMENT
In s t it u t e o f T ro p ic al Med i ci ne ( I TM ) , N a ga sa ki U ni v e r si ty

The tropics, the most ecologically diverse region on the Earth, presents an ongoingcomplexity of tropical diseases and other health problems. In view of the remarkableadvances made in the ﬁeld of international exchange in recent years, it is imperative thatthese problems be addressed from a global perspective.
Based on this understanding, the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University,
aims to overcome tropical diseases, particularly infectious diseases, and the various healthproblems associated with them, in cooperation with related institutions, to strive forexcellence in the following areas:
１．Spear-head research in tropical medicine and international health
２．Global contribution through disease control and health promotion in the tropics
by applying the fruits of the research
３．Cultivation of the researchers and specialists in the above ﬁelds

General View of the Institute

Coverpage : Exploring breeding sites of malaria vectors in Vietnam

Preface
Our Institute of Tropical Medicine （ITM）, established in 1942, is a unique government-assisted institution for the
research on tropical medicine, both in the basic and applied fields. Its reorganization led to the first collaborative institutein medical science in Japan in 1989, and designation as one of the Centers of Excellence in 1995 by MEXT. Present
organization of the institute is composed of 4 major research fields (15 departments, 1domestic visiting department, 1
overseas visiting department), 3 centers, and 1 clinical unit.
ITM has been authorized as "Tropical Medicine Research Center" of Joint Usage supported by Japanese Ministry of
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2009 and it empowered our function as an open institute to theresearcher in the whole country. Center for Infectious Disease Research in Asia and Africa, Kenya and Vietnam researchstations have completed their basic infrastructure in the first five years and started substantial research activities in thesecond term. Moreover, it has been introduced systems of appraisal by outsiders who are global experts in their fields
and has published its report.
ITM set its General Goals: Mission Statement in May 1999. Diverse activities below are underway to achieve thesegeneral goals, with the indication of asterisk.
＊Spear-head research in tropical medicine and international health
1. Strategic research activities have been conducted to develop new countermeasures against tropical diseases. These
activities include analysis of base sequences of Japanese encephalitis and dengue virus genes, unraveling ofstructure and mechanism of host receptors for bacterial toxins, analysis of cell invasion by malaria parasites atmolecular levels, and immunological analysis of tropical infectious diseases.
2. Epidemiological studies and research on malaria, dengue fever/dengue hemorrhagic fever, emerging viral infectious
diseases, AIDS, acute respiratory infections, schistosomiasis, tropical infectious diseases, etc., in Southeast Asia,
Eastern Africa, and other countries/regions.
3. Environmental factors, such as vector and socio-economic problem, which affect the spread of tropical diseases inthe developing countries have been studied.
＊Global contribution through disease control and health promotion in the tropics by applying the fruits of the research
1. When the world was suffering from a severe outbreak of SARS in 2003, ITM dispatched 3 researchers to P.R. China
and other countries in respond to a request of WHO.
2. And in 2005, ITM dispatched the investigation team to make a survey of possible outbreak of infectious diseases inIndonesia and Sri Lanka, the countries that met disaster of tsunami. Thus the staffs have given their technicalco-operation to disease control program in developing countries as WHO short-term consultants, JICA experts andother consultants.
3. Implementation project for Strengthening EPI in Pacific Region in 2005
4. Promotion of Community Health Care Project by JICA Grassroots Innovations for sustainable development in
Kenya in 2007
5. ITM staff members are sent to the earthquake in Haiti as a member of Japan Disaster Relief Team in 2010
6. ITM sent staff members for Medical Cooperative Service soon after Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake had happened in2011 March.
＊Capacity building of the researchers and specialists in the above fields
1. ITM offers training to graduate students (in doctor's and master's courses) through collaborative courses with
Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS). In 2006, ITM launched a one-year master's
course in tropical medicine for MD students and in 2008, started to offer programs for students (capacity: 10) as anentity closely related to the master course at Nagasaki University Graduate School of International Health
Development (an independent graduate school).
2. Since 1978, ITM offers a 3-month course of Tropical Medicine and Related Studies.
3. Since 2006, by the cooperation of WHO/TDR, ITM started Diploma Course on Research & Development of
Products to meet Public Health Needs (3 weeks) which 6 universities in 4 countries (Japan, Thailand, China, andColombia) cooperated to hold the course.
Based on the achievements mentioned above, in 1993, Department of Virology has been designated as WHO
Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Tropical Viral Diseases, and since 2000 ITM has played a role ofcore university in JSPS cooperative research program with Vietnam.
In 2003, ITM and GSBS made a joint application to the 21st Century Center of Excellence (21c COE) Programsupported by MEXT. Our research program Global Control Strategy of Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases
successfully obtains a Government Grant of 5 years.
In 2005, the overseas research laboratories of ITM has been established in Kenya Medical Research Institute(KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya and National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), Hanoi, Vietnam. In 2008, ITM's
proposal was approved as a Global COE Program, an advanced form of the 21st Century COE Program.
In March 2009, ITM staged an eight-day special exhibition entitled Africa's Nature, Development, and People−
Nagasaki University Fighting against Tropical Infectious Diseases at the National Science Museum, Tokyo, which attracted over 10,000 visitors. A special open lecture, which was held as part of the exhibition, was attended by many participants.
In addition, ITM has a home page by which we appeal the public how tropical medicine is important for the well beingof humankind and offer the information on the tropical diseases.
This pamphlet is one of our advocacy efforts to the public. It offers a brief but intelligible explanation on our research
activities and other related social activities. Any suggestions and supports will be gratefully appreciated.
July, 2012
Tsutomu Takeuchi
Dean and Professor
Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM)
Nagasaki University―1―

Contents
Preface ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
Contents ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
Historical Review …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
Successive Deans of the Institute ………………………………………………………………………………… 4
Organizational Chart ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5
Research Center on Tropical Diseases …………………………………………………………………………… 6
The Steering Committee for the Collaborative Research Center on Tropical Medicine ……………………… 8Character of research organization and activities ………………………………………………………………… 9
Graduate Courses …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9Three-month Course on Tropical Medicine ……………………………………………………………………… 9
Clinical Medicine and Research for Tropical Doctors (JICA Training Program) ……………………………… 10
Public communication………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
Publications …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
Global COE Program Integrated Global Control Strategy for the Tropicaland Emerging Infectious Diseases ………………………………………………………………………………… 11
Department of Virology ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 12
Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases …………………………………………………………………… 13
Department of Bacteriology ………………………………………………………………………………………… 14
Department of Protozoology ………………………………………………………………………………………… 15
Department of Parasitology ………………………………………………………………………………………… 16
Department of Immunogenetics …………………………………………………………………………………… 17
Department of Eco-epidemiology …………………………………………………………………………………… 18
Department of International Health ………………………………………………………………………………… 19
Department of Vector Ecology & Environment …………………………………………………………………… 20
Department of Clinical Medicine …………………………………………………………………………………… 21
Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases ……………………………………………………………………… 22
Department of Clinical Product Development …………………………………………………………………… 23
Center for Infectious Disease Research in Asia and Africa
Kenya Research Station ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 24
Vietnam Research Station …………………………………………………………………………………………… 25
Tropical Medicine Museum ………………………………………………………………………………………… 26
Central Laboratory …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 27
Animal Research Center for Tropical Infections ………………………………………………………………… 28
Clinic at the University Hospital …………………………………………………………………………………… 29
Number of Staff ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 30
Accounting …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 30
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology ………………………………………………………………………… 30
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare …………………… 30
Subsidy ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 31
External Funding …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 31
Agreement of Educational, Scientific and Scholarly Exchange ………………………………………………… 31
Telephone Number ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 32
Location map of the Institute of Tropical Medicine on Sakamoto Campusof Nagasaki University ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 34―2―

Historical Review
The Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki
University was originally founded in March 1942
as the East Asia Research Institute of Endemics,
Nagasaki Medical College in order to performbasic and applied studies on endemic diseases in
East Asia. At the beginning, most of its research
activities were field studies conducted in mainland China by the Departments of Pathology,
Bacteriology, Internal Medicine, and Dermatology
of Nagasaki Medical College. August 9th, 1945,
the atomic bomb was dropped in Nagasaki, andthe Institute's all the facilities and research materials were completely destroyed together with
Medical School. Consequently, the developmentof the Institute and its research activities had
lagged significantly behind.
In April, 1946, the Institute changed its nameto the Research Institute of Endemics, Nagasaki
Medical College, and moved to Isahaya City in
May to resume research activities. Yet in accordance with the National School Establishment
Law issued in May, 1949, the Institute once againchanged its name to the Research Institute ofEndemics, Nagasaki University. In 1957, theInstitute was affected by another disaster of massive flooding, and its facilities, equipment, andresearch materials were severely damaged. Thus,
construction of a new building started in
Sakamoto, Nagasaki City in 1960, and theInstitute moved to the building in April of the following year. The Institute's Departments, whichwere only two at the time, Pathology and Clinics,
increased its number every year after 1963,
including Epidemiology, Parasitology, andVirology. The Sakamoto building finished its first
expansion at the end of 1966.
In June, 1967, with the partial alteration of
the National School Establishment Law, the nameof the Institute was changed for the third time tothe present one to carry out basic and appliedstudies on tropical medicine. Around the sametime, the Department of Internal Medicine,
Institute of Tropical Medicine, equipped with 20
beds, was opened in the University Hospital. In
1974, the Department of Bacteriology and theReference Center were attached, and in 1978,
the Department of Preventive Medicine, consist-ing mainly of visiting professors, associate professors, and researchers, and the Tropical
Medicine Training Course were launched. In theensuing year, the Infectious Animals Depriva-tion
Experiment Laboratory was promoted to become the Animal research Center for Tropical
Infections, and the second building expansion
was concluded in March, 1980. In September,
1983, a JICA-sponsored group training program
Tropical Medicine Research Course was opened,
the Department of Protozoology was establisheda year after, and the third building extension was
finished in July the year after that. Two years
later, the Department of Medical Entomology
was created and the Institute was reorganized
into the collaborative institute in another two
years. In 1991, the Department of Biochemistry
was added, and the fourth building expansion
was ended in March, 1994. In April, 1994, theInstitute was divided into three big Divisions,Tropical Microbiology, Pathogenesis and Clinical
Sciences, and Environmental Medicine, with theestablishment of two new research Departments,
Thermal Adaptation and Social Environment,
which have expanded to 12 Departments at present. The Institute was desig-nated as Center of
Excell-ence in the forefront of scientific researchin 1995, and a new research Department,
Molecular Epide-miology, was established under
the Research Field of Microbiology in 1996 to
invite overseas visiting professors. In 1997, theReference Room for the Tropical Medicine was
replaced by the Tropical Disease Information andReference Center, and it was again succeeded by
the Research Center for Tropical Infectious
Disease in 2001. In March, 2003, when the
Sakamoto build-ing finalized its fifth expansion,
its extension work of almost 40 years came to an
end. In March, 2006, the main building's repair
work was completed. In April, 2008, the ResearchCenter for Tropical Infectious Disease for the
Tropical Medicine was replaced by the Center for
Infectious Disease Research in Asia and Africa
and Tropical Medicine Museum. In June, 2009,
the institute was authorized as the Collaborative
Research Center on Tropical Disease by the
Ministry of Education. More recently, two additional depatments on clinical medicine, i.e., pediatric infectious diseases and clinical pharmaceutical science, were admitted for installation.

―3―

Successive Deans of the Institute（East Asian Research Institute of Endemics）
May. 04, 1942 - Aug. 22, 1945
Susumu Tsunoo
Kohei Koyano

D e c. 22, 1945 - J a n. 23, 1948

Kiyoshi Takase

J a n. 24, 1948 - Aug. 31, 1948

Noboru Tokura

Sept. 01, 1948 - May. 30, 1949

（Research Institute of Endemics）
Noboru Tokura

May. 31, 1949 - Aug. 31, 1958

Nanzaburo Omori

Sept. 01, 1958 - Nov. 30, 1963

Hideo Fukumi

D e c. 01, 1963 - May. 31, 1967

（Institute of Tropical Medicine）
Hideo Fukumi

J u n. 01, 1967 - Nov. 30, 1969

Daisuke Katamine

D e c. 01, 1969 - Nov. 30, 1973

Kaoru Hayashi

D e c. 01, 1973 - Nov. 30, 1977

Tatsuro Naito

D e c. 01, 1977 - Nov. 30, 1979

Daisuke Katamine

D e c. 01, 1979 - A p r. 01, 1981

Keizo MatsumotoA p r. 02, 1981 - A p r. 01, 1991

Hideyo Itakura

A p r. 02, 1991 - A p r. 01, 1993

Mitsuo Kosaka

A p r. 02, 1993 - A p r. 01, 1997

Akira Igarashi

A p r. 02, 1997 - May. 31, 2001

Yoshiki Aoki

A p r. 01, 2001 - May. 31, 2007

Kenji Hirayama

A p r. 01, 2007 - May. 31, 2011

Tsutomu Takeuchi

A p r. 01, 2012- Up to the present―4―Organizational Chart
Department of Virology
Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases
Microbiology
and Parasitology

Department of Bacteriology
Department of Protozoology
Department of Parasitology
Department of Molecular Epidemiology(Overseas Visiting Professor)

Department of lmmunogenetics
Host and Vector
Biology

Department of Host-Defense Biochemistry
Depanment of Pathology
Department of Preventive Medicine and AIDS Research

Dean
Department of Eco-epidemiology
Faculty

Public andEnvironmental Health

Department of International Health
Department of Global Health Development Policy Sciences

Meeting

Department of Vector Ecology and Environment

Department of Clinical Medicine
Clinical Medicine
and Research

Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Department of Clinical Product Development

Center for Infectious Disease Research in Asia and Africa
Kenya Research Station
Vietnam Research Station
AssociatedFacilities

Animal Research Center for Tropical Infections
Tropical Medicine Museum
Central Research LaboratoryOﬃce for Training and Education

Nagasaki
University
HospitalInternal Medicine

Department of Infections Diseases―5―Research Center on Tropical Diseases
Our institute is the one and only public sector

scientific communities collaborative researches

supported by MEXT (Ministry of Education,

rooted upon the field where infectious diseases

Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan)

are prevailing, making use of the facilities likethat aims to do the research on tropical diseases,

Asia and Africa Research Stations internationallyand identified as the Collaborative Researchrecognized. It also serves as a resource center

Center on Tropical Disease.

for information and biological samples related to
infectious diseases speeding globally.

（1）The Goal of the Center
The infectious diseases are caused by the col-（2）Outline of the Collaborative Researchlapse of symbiosis with other creatures, which

The Research Center on Tropical Medicine

cannot be avoided if we, human being, live in theappeals to the public for the collaborative

nature. Although the ultimate aim of this center isresearch, which is either basic or applied

to eradicate infectious diseases, it is needed

research based upon epidemiological, clinical orrather to establish reciprocal relationship withpublic health framework.

other creatures than to eliminate them. Such

The Research Center on Tropical Medicine

establishment of reciprocal relationship requires

appeals to the public for the research meeting,the collective knowledge, which can be achieved

which promotes and facilitates the research ofcombined only by combining a broad aspect ofinfectious d i s e a s e s t h r o u g h e x c h a n g i n g

disciplines.

information or technologies necessary.

The Tropical Infectious Diseases have been

The Research Center on Tropical Medicine isspreading in the tropical area, which is the reflection

also to deliver bio-resources including infectiousof environment and socio-economic situation

agents, information, and etc. collected andexisted there. It is considered to be a big challenge

stored here, and thus serves as a resource center

related to health. As a matter of fact, emerging

on Tropical Medicine.

and re-emerging infectious diseases including
newly emerging infectious diseases, HIV and（3）Organizational Chart of the Centertuberculosis have been spreading globally with

As for administration of this research center,tropical area being its epicenter. The tropicalthe dean of the Institute of Tropical Medicine

area is not only the battle field where we, humanestablished the Steering Committee for the

being, fight against them but also the experimental

Collaborative Research Center on Tropicalground where we newly create and develop our

Medicine, which was composed of 10 members,

knowledge and technology alike in order to control

out of whom more than half should be out side

infectious diseases.

the university concerned.

The Steering

The Research Center on Tropical Diseases is

Committee for the Collaborative Researchto accomplish with the members in the diverse

Center on Tropical Medicine is responsible for―6―adoption of the applications and monitoring andevaluation of the activities in question.
In order to support activities above mentioned,
the specific Section supporting the ResearchCenter o n T r o p i c a l M e d i c i n e w a s n e w l yformed and a professor was designated to be asection chief.

（4）Activities in 2012
There was 34 applications for collaborative
researches, out of which 23 was adopted.
There was 6 applications for research meeting,out of which 5 was adopted.
There was 3 applications for collaborative
researches specified research area, out of which
3 was adopted.

―7―

The Steering Committee for the Collaborative Research Center on Tropical Medicine
Committee Member outside the university
National Reseach Center for Protozoan Diseases,
Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
Professor◎Ikuo Igarashi

Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association
Director

Nobukatsu Ishikawa

Center for Integrated Area Studies, Kyoto University
Professor

Fumiko Oshikawa

Department of Tropical Medicine and Malaria ResearchInstitute National Center for Global Health and Medicine
Director

Shigeyuki Kano

National Institute of Infectious Diseases
Deputy Director-General
Ichiro Kurane
RIKEN Center of Research Network for Infectious Diseases
Director

Yoshiyuki Nagai

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Professor

Noriyuki Nishida

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Dean

Noboru Takamura

Institute of Tropical Medicine

Professor

Toshiya Hirayama

Institute of Tropical Medicine

Professor

Koya Ariyoshi

Institute of Tropical Medicine

Professor

Taro Yamamoto

Committee Member outside the instituteCommittee Member inside the institute◎：Chairman―8―Graduate Courses

Character of researchorganization and activities
Based on the following research organizationand intimate linkages with other research
institutes and universities, the institute aims ataccomplishing a mission Spear-head research intropical medicine and international health.
●To study comprehensively the tropical diseases
which are raging in the developing countries,
research organization of the institute consistsof 4 major research fields which deal with theclassic quad of the human-agent-environment
determinant-clinical study of infectious
diseases and Overseas Research Station,
Animal Research Center for Tropical Medicine,and Tropical Medicine Museum. Other facilitiesof the institute include a joint research laboratory
and a tropical medicine education office.
●The research of tropical medicine faces theinevitable fact that the bench is in the bush.
Therefore the institute has a close linkage withthe overseas institutes in Asia, Africa andSouth Americas and continues the joint studies.
Memorandums of academic exchange programs
were signed between Nagasaki University and8 overseas institutes. Since the overseas
research laboratories of the institute has been
established in Kenya Medical ResearchInstitute (KEMRI), Kenya and National Instituteof Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) Vietnam
in 2005, by the grants from Ministry of
Education, Sports, Culture, Science andtechnology (MEXT), the extensive andlongitudinal studies on tropical diseases has
been on the progress, and are extended tocontinue in more 5 or 6 years. We haveextended our effort to achieve external funds
for this project and obtained the Special
Coordination Funds for Promoting Science andTechnology and the Science and Technology
Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS), etc. These funds have
expanded the researches at Asia and Africa
stations.
●The prevalence of tropical diseases depends
on the geographic, social and economic factors.
Therefore the institute has established thespecial research system which helps forward
the multidisciplinary studies on tropicaldiseases.

In April, 2002, the structure of doctoral
course in Nagasaki University was re-organized;
three Graduate Schools of Medical Science,
Dental Science and Pharmacology were integrated
into the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
The school now runs four doctoral courses. All
the departments in the Institute of Tropical
Medicine (ITM) belong to the Course of Infection
Research. Students who wish to apply for the
doctoral course under the supervision of the ITM,
are requested to contact the professor of department
where he or she wishes to study, prior to thesubmission of application form to the office of
the Graduate School.
〈 Master of Tropical Medicine (MTM)〉In April, 2006, the Nagasaki University graduate
school of Biomedical Sciences opened theMaster of Tropical Medicine (MTM) course,which accommodates 12 students from various
countries. The curriculum consists of threeparts: (1) 4 months intensive lecture and practiceon Clinical Tropical Medicine and Tropical Public
Health, (2) 2 weeks oversea group training on
tropical clinical medicine and public health inThailand, and (3) 6 months dissertation preparationfor each student's subject. Degree of Master ofTropical Medicine is awarded to successful students.
The applicant should have more than two yearsof clinical experience as a medical doctor, andshould have sufficient communication skill in
English.
From 2012, it will start from October.
〈Master of Public Health (MPH)〉
In April, 2008, the Graduate School ofInternational Health Development was founded at
Nagasaki University. The main aim is to cultivate
specialists who contribute to the promotion ofgood health in developing countries. A Master of
Public Health (MPH) degree is awarded to students
who successfully complete this two-year course.
Since tropical medicine plays a pivotal role inpromoting good health internationally, four
professors from ITM serve as a full-time faculty
member in the program. The applicants are
required to have sufficient command of Japanese
language.
The information on these courses including
application form is available through our homepage.
http://www.tm.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/nekken/english/index.html―9―Three-month Course on
Tropical Medicine
This is a short-course of tropical medicine. This
course aims to support medical and co-medical
personnel who plan to work in the tropics, by providing
opportunities to learn a broad range of skills andknowledge relevant to practicing medicine, directing
disease control programs and conducting medical
research in tropical and developing countries.
The course began in 1978. As of the 35thcourse in 2012, 434 participants (including 165
medical doctors, and 269 co-medical such as
nurses, community health nurses, midwives,
pharmacists) from all over Japan have completed
the course. Fifteen participants are accepted toattend the course in each year. The course is run
by the steering committee, which consists ofmembers from both inside and outside theInstitute of Tropical Medicine (ITM).
The full-time staff members of the ITM and asubstantial number of visiting professors andlecturers provide the 13 weeks (April to June, in2012) of lectures, laboratory practicals and fieldwork in the fields of virology, bacteriology,
protozoology, parasitology, medical entomology,
pathology, immunogenetics, epidemiology,
human ecology, social medicine, clinical medicine
and also geography and culture in tropics.
Participants who completed the course successfully
are awarded the Diploma in Tropical Medicine.

ing medical standard, and to promoting friendly relations to the developing countries, this training
course was established in 1983, in collaboration with
the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
As of 2011, the ITM has trained 213 trainees from50 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and East
Europe.
The objective of this course is to provide
trainees with various opportunities to enrich theirbasic knowledge and practical techniques forcontrolling endemic and epidemic diseases andconducting medical research to improve various
medical problems in their countries in the tropics.
Up to 2005, the ITM has accommodated 5-10
trainees per year. Each trainee belongs to a hostdepartment where they conduct their researchand receive a Diploma from the ITM.
Since April 2006, this training course wasformally incorporated into Master of Tropical
Medicine course of the Graduate School of
Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University andstudents have received higher education inquality.This course closed in 2011, due to thechange of JICA policy.

Public communication
Lectures and film shows for citizens are heldoccasionally. Every year, several groups of highschool students with teachers visit our museum,attending lectures and film shows. To accumulate
know-how of risk communication on tropicalinfectious diseases in our institute, we are planning
to introduce science cafe sessions where wehave frank communication with citizens on thepresent state and future prospects of research on
tropical medicine.

Publications
Admission ceremony in 2012

Clinical Medicine andResearch for Tropical Doctors(JICA Training Program)
As a part of Japan Government TechnicalCooperation Programs for contributing to upgrading
the levels of tropical medicine research, to improv-

Our official publications are as follows;
１）Bulletin of Nagasaki University Institute ofTropical Medicine (in Japanese, yearly since1964, PDF files are available at our Web page.)２）English Brochure: INSTITUTE OF TROPICALMEDICINE NAGASAKI UNIVERSITY (this copy.
Yearly since 1977, PDF files are available atour Web page.)３）Japanese Brochure (in Japanese yearly since1977, PDF files are available at our Web page.)
４）Report of Nation-wide Cooperative Research
Projects (Information of research activities andachievements as a nation-wile cooperative
research center for tropical medicine is compiled.)― 10 ―

Global COE Programg
Integrated Global Control Strategy for
the Tropical and Emerging Infectious
Diseases
The United Nations issued eight development
goals in its Millennium Declaration in 2000 as international targets, with the core message being measures against infectious diseases expressed as follow: Stop the occurrence of major diseases
including HIV/AIDS by 2015 and decrease thesubsequent incident rate. The ultimate goal ofthis program is to control and conquer these major
infectious diseases. We will further advance andinternationalize our outstanding achievements inthe 21st century COE program to create a newcenter of excellence (COE) toward the accomplishment of these objectives.
For controlling and overcoming infectious diseases, tactical strategies and personnel withappropriate skills to carry them out are absolutely
necessary. This new COE will focus on neglected
infectious diseases （NTD), which have rarely
been considered because most of the cases havebeen happened in poor developing countries, plus

diseases involving diarrhea, which tend to be treated as curable in developed countries. Of these
tropical and emerging infectious diseases, we will
lay concepts of a new strategy in a comprehensive manner to control and overcome those diseases which have currently become global issues
or major impediments to development, and workon research and development of innovative technology essential for the implementation of ourstrategy. Moreover, through this process, we will
foster promising experts who can play a leadingrole in the future of this research area.

Basic and Field research for 4 infectons and 11pathogens
Groups of
Infections

Reseach Approach

Basic research
Emerging
Infecious
DiseasesField Based Reserch

Basic research
Diarrhea

Malaria

Field Based Reserch

Basic research

PathogenName

Aﬃliation

Prion

Noriyuki Nishida

Graduate Schoolof Biomedical
Science (GSBS)

HIV

Masaaki Kai

GSBS

Mosquito -mediated virus

Kouichi Morita

NEKKEN

MycosisShigeru Kohno

GSBS

HIV/Dengue

Kouya Ariyoshi

NEKKENHTLV-1Taro Yamamoto

NEKKEN

Salmonela Typhimurium

Toshiya Hirayama

NEKKEN

Rotavirus

Osamu Nakagomi

GSBS

Bacterial Diarrhea

Tetsu Yamashiro

NEKKEN

Osamu Kaneko

NEKKEN

Katsuyuki Yui

GSBS

Noboru Minakawa

NEKKEN

Shinjiro Hamano

NEKKEN

Satoshi Kaneko

NEKKEN

Kenji Hirayama

NEKKEN

Malaria

Field Based Reserch
NTD
Neglected
Tropical
Diseases

Basic researchAmebic dysentery
DSS (Demographic

Field Based Reserch

Surveillance System)
Chagas― 11 ―

Department of Virology
This Department has been conducting basic andapplied research on mosquito-borne viruses such as
Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus, dengue virus andWest Nile virus, as well as emerging infectious viruses such as SARS virus and Nipah virus.
Molecular epidemiology of Japanese
encephalitis and Dengue viruses
We isolate JE and dengue viruses in Asia andAfrican regions and conduct molecular epidemiologicalanalysis to clarify international and inter-continental
movement of those viruses. We also analyze uniquegenome sequences that are relevant to pathogenicity.
Research on animal and organ specificity of
Flavivirus
JE virus infects more efficiently in swine, whereas
dengue virus multiplies well in humans. We are
identifying the molecular basis for such host-specificinfection of flaviviruses.

Activities as a WHO Collaborating Center
Dr. S. T. Han, then Regional Director of WHO
Western Pacific Region (WPR), designated theDepartment of Virology as 'a WHO Collaborating
Center for Reference and Research on Tropical Viral
Diseases' on 23 Nov. 1993. In 2003, the department
was re-designated as 'a WHO Collaborating Center
for Reference and Research on Tropical andEmerging Virus Diseases' by Dr. Shigeru Omi, former
Regional Director of WHO/WPR. The Department
has been collaborating with WHO in training for WHO
fellows from many developing countries anddeployment of experts as WHO short-term
consultants. In addition, Dr. Kouichi Morita wasdispatched to WHO/WPRO as Regional Adviser on
Communicable Diseases from 16 May 1995 to 15
May 1998. Dr. Futoshi Hasebe was also dispatched
for a long term to collaborate in the global emerging
infectious disease control program from March 2004
to March 2006. The Department initiated andheld the First GOARN/WHO National Training
Course in Nagasaki from 25 to 29 February 2008 incollaboration with WHO/WPRO.

Research on viral gene functions and vaccine
development using reverse genetics
We have developed infectious clones for JE anddengue viruses and identify gene functions bymodifying various parts of the genes or constructing
chimeric viruses between the two viruses. In
addition, we are developing genetically engineered
viruses as candidates for live attenuated vaccines.
Development of rapid diagnosis
Various tools for rapid diagnoses are being
developed for flaviviruses and other emerging viruses
using PCR, LAMP and nLC/MS technologies.
Also, genetically engineered antigens are being
developed to provide affordable serological tests fordeveloping countries.
Research on emerging viral infectious diseases
Epidemiological studies on SARS virus, Nipah
virus and H5N1 avian influenza virus are being
conducted in Viet Nam, Malaysia and othercountries in the South East Asia.
VnHcm18/02-C 62 Glu

Professor
Kouichi Morita
Professor (Project)
Futoshi Hasebe
Assistant Professor
Shingo Inoue
Assistant Professor
Fuxun Yu
Assistant Professor
Takeshi Nabeshima
Assistant Professor
Daisuke Hayasaka
Visting Assistant Professor
Masanobu Ago
Visting Researcher
Toru Kubo
Postdoctoral Fellow
Guillermo Posadas Herrera
Postdoctoral Fellow
Kenta Okamoto
Research Fellow
Alonzo Maria Terrese Galvez
COE Research Fellow Mya Myat Ngwe Tun
Assistant
Kazumi Jodai
COE Technician
Takako Chiba
Assistant
Mayumi Ogawa
Graduate Student
Akira Yoshikawa
Graduate Student
Muhareva Raekiansyah
Graduate Student
Yuki Takamatsu
Graduate Student
Luat Le Xuan
Graduate Student
Reo Uchida
Research Student
Ulanday Gianne Eduard Limbo

VnHcm18/02-K 62 Lys

One specific amino acid change of Dengue virus
surface protein affect its cell tropism

P3 level laboratory― 12 ―

Department of Emerging
Infectious Diseases
Emerging infectious diseases are infectious
diseases whose incidence in humans haveincreased in the past 20 years and threaten toincrease in the near future. We are working on
the basic research to develop and produce
countermeasures against emerging infectious
diseases, especially viral hemorrhagic fevers andinfluenza.
Research subjects:
Analyses of replication mechanisms ofhighly pathogenic viruses
In infected cells, the viruses replicate using
various cellular machinery and release a large
number of progeny virions. Our interests are toclarify the molecular mechanisms of virus replication
in host cells. We are currently analyzing themolecular interactions between viral proteins andcellular 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 mechanismsof their antiviral action. We will also starthigh-throughput screening of organic and chemicalcompound 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 furthertransmission. We have developed novel diagnostic
assay for emerging viral diseases.
Studies on endogenous retroviruses
Recently, it has been reported that a portionof 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 fromanimal donor to immunosuppressed humantransplant patients. To reduce the risk induced byendogenous retroviruses in vaccine preparationand xenotransplantation, we are developing thestrategies to regulate the production of endogenous
retroviruses from cells.
Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases
Professor
Jiro Yasuda
Assistant Professor Yohei Kurosaki
Assistant Professor Shuzo Urata
Research Fellow
Eri Takeda
Research Fellow
Aiko Fukuma
Assistant
Tomomi Kamiyama
COE Technician
Asami Fujii
Graduate Student
Chisato Narahara

Molecular Mechanism of Marburg virus budding

Laboratory― 13 ―

Department of Bacteriology
Our major research interest is to elucidate
the etiologic agents isolated from pathogenic
bacteria related to the worldwide emerging andreemerging diseases and to know the virulencemechanisms of bacterial pathogens.
Helicobacter pylori is a bacterial pathogen
found in the stomach mucosa of more than 50%of the world population and more common (over80%) in developing and tropical countries.
Infection with H. pylori plays a major role in thedevelopment of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer,
and is a risk factor for gastric cancer. Pathogenic
strains of H. pylori secrete a potent protein toxin,
a vacuolating cytotoxin, termed VacA, whichcauses progressive vacuolation of epithelial cells
and gastric injury. We found that VacA induces
multiple effects on epithelial cells, including
mitochondrial damage [1] and apoptosis [2].
These actions of VacA appear to result from
activation of cellular pathways, independent of
those leading to vacuolation. Similarly,
VacA-induced phosphorylation of G protein coupled
receptor kinase-interactor 1 (Git 1), which may
be responsible for epithelial cell detachment
caused by VacA, leading to peptic ulceration [3],and VacA-induced activation of p 38/ATF-2mediated signal pathway [4] are independent of
VacA effects on cellular vacuolation.
Analysis of VacA receptors provided new
insights into the molecular basis of VacA function.
We reported that two VacA proteins, termed m1
VacA and m2 VacA, which were defined bysequence differences in the middle of the molecules,
interacted with target cells by binding to two
types of receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatases(RPTPs), i. e., RPTPα and RPTPβ, resulting in
toxin internalization and vacuolation of thehuman gastric adeno-carcinoma cell lines AZ-521
and G 401 [5, 6, 7]. By analysis of the pathologicalresponses of wild type and RPTPβ-deficient
mice to oral administration of VacA, we foundthat RPTPβ functions as a receptor for VacA

and produces the disease associated with VacA
toxicity including gastritis and gastric ulcer [3].
To further elucidate the potential mechanismof how H. pylori establishes infection, we also
investigate the host-parasite relationships of H.
pylori, focusing on VacA as well as CagA, which
is an effecter protein injected by its type IV
secretion system into host cells. Consistent with
suppression of nuclear translocation of nuclear
factor of activated T cells, NFAT, in Jurkat T
cells, VacA counteracted CagA-induced activationof NFAT in AGS cells, suggesting that the two
major H. pylori virulence factors inversely control
NFAT activity [8]. Deregulation of NFAT, either
positively or negatively, may contribute to cellular
dysfunctions that underlie diverged clinicalmanifestations caused by H. pylori infection. In
addition, VacA activates the PI3K/Akt signaling
pathway, resulting in phosphorylation and inhibitionof GSK3β, and subsequent translocation of βcatenin to the nucleus, consistent with effects of
VacA on β-catenin-regulated transcriptional
activity, suggesting the possibility that Wnt/βcatenin-dependent signaling might play a role in
the pathogenesis of H. pylori infection, including
the development of gastric cancer [ 9 ].
Surprisingly, in polarized epithelial cells, CagA
suppressed p21 expression, whereas VacA did
not interfere this effect [10].
References: [1] Microb. Pathog. 31:29-36,
2001, [2] J. Biol. Chem. 281: 11250-11259,
2006, [3] Nat. Genet. 33: 375-381, 2003, [4] J.
Biol. Chem. 279: 7024-7028, 2004, [5] J. Biol.
Chem. 278:19183-19189, 2003, [6] J. Biol.
Chem. 279: 51013-51021, 2004, [7] Cell
Microbiol 7: 1285-293, 2005, [8] Proc. Natl.
Acad. Sci. USA. 102: 9661- 9666, 2005. [9] J.
Biol. Chem. 284:1612-1619, 2009, [10] J. Exp.
Med.270: 2157-2174. 2010.

Virulence mechanism of Helicobacter pylori vacuolating
cytotoxin,VacA.

― 14 ―

Professor
Toshiya Hirayama
Senior Assistant Professor Akihiro Wada
Assistant professor
Masayuki Nakano
Assistant
Kayo Maeda

LaboratoryDepartment of Protozoology
Malaria is responsible for a huge burden ofdeath and disease in large areas of the tropicaland sub-tropical world. Unfortunately, thosecountries hardest hit by the disease are often
amongst the poorest. Despite continuing efforts,
there is still no effective vaccine against the disease.
In order to design and implement effective disease
intervention strategies, we believe that one of
the key priorities in malaria research should be
the strengthening of our understanding of thebasic biology of the parasite. We are currently
investigating some fundamental aspects of theparasite s life cycle, such as the mechanisms
behind erythrocyte invasion and the phenomenonof cytoadherence of parasite-infected erythrocytes.
In addition, we are also conducting research
aimed at elucidating the intracellular survival
strategy of Trypanosma cruzi that cause Chagas
disease and a molecular epidemiology of Leishmania
donovani that cause visceral leishmaniasis.
We are actively pursuing the following lines ofinvestigation:

1. Malaria
1) The molecular basis of host cell invasion byparasites
2) The molecular basis of cytoadherence ofparasite-infected erythrocytes
3) Transcriptional control in malaria parasites
4) Recrudescence of malaria parasites
5) Establishment of P.vivax culture system
6) Molecular epidemiology of P. falciparum
malaria in endemic countries
7) Transmission dynamics of P. knowlesi , azoonotic monkey malaria parasite
2. Trypanosoma
1) The function and expression mechanism oftrans-sialidase
2) Stage specific adaptation mechanisms
employed by different Trypanosoma species
3. Leishmania
1) Molecular epidemiology of Leishmania donovani
Professor
Senior Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Research Fellow
Visiting Researcher
Visiting Researcher
Visiting Researcher
Visiting Researcher
Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
COE Technician
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Graduate Student

Schematic of the malaria merozoite and its invasion-related
molecules.

Newly identified malaria proteins were localized to theapical end of the merozoite. Blue is parasite nucleous,green and red indicate the location of the identified proteins.
Upper panels are DIC images of the malaria parasite.

Osamu Kaneko
Haruki Uemura
Shusuke Nakazawa
Kazuhide Yahata
Miako Sakaguchi
Shinya Miyazaki
Pedro Eduardo Mendes Ferreira
Kishor Pandey
Miho Goto
Tomoko Komagata
Miki Kinoshita
Yoshimi Matsuo
Momoko Ogoshi
Reiko Tanaka
Akiko Cristina Ikeda
Xiaotong Zhu
Megumi Inoue
Takaya Sakura
Phonepadith Xangsayarath
Joe Kimanthi Mutungi

Amastigotes(left)and trypomastigotes(right)of
Trypanosoma cruzi .

― 15 ―

Department of Parasitology
Infectious diseases are still a huge menace tohuman health and continue unabated in tropicalareas under the conditions of poverty and theunique natural and social environments. Various
kinds of parasites infect humans for long periodsof time without killing them, giving rise totremendous 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.
Target diseases of our studies
We have been carrying out both field andlaboratory studies on several of the most importanthelminthic diseases, including schistosomiasis,
filariasis and intestinal helminthiasis and on
important but neglected protozoan diseases suchas amoebiasis, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis.

addition to genetic factors, we aim to elucidate
various environmental factors that determine
and/or influence the outcome and transmissionof the infection. In the laboratory, we study hostdefense mechanisms against Leishmania major,
L. donovani, Trypanosoma cruzi, and T. congolense,
and in the process, have elucidated the functionof 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 on pathogenicity
of Entamoeba histolytica, E moshkovskii and hostdefense mechanisms to Entamoeba spp.
３）Cohort study using HDSS on infectious
diseases in Mbita (the eastern lakefrontof Lake Victoria) and Kwale area
We will start cohort study of infectious diseasesin Mbita and Kwale area using HDSS (Health and
Demographic Surveillance System) as thecollaboration with Department of Eco-epidemiology.
Last year, the feasible studies on shistosomiasis,other helminthic and protozoan infections,
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and so on were carried out.

１）Schistosomiasis and Filariasis
Since 1981, the research project on Schisto-somahaematobium has been carried out in Kwale,
Kenya, in cooperation with Kenya Medical
Research Institute (KEMRI). Last year, we started
a new research project on parasitic diseases in
Mbita and Kwale, Kenya. In the laboratory, we
have been maintained Schistosoma. mansoni andintermediate snails and are trying to elucidate
immune responses as well as to develop sensitive and specific diagnostic methods through thestudy on the unique molecules belonging to
Schistosoma spp.
A research project on filariasis was also carriedout in Mbita and Kwale, Kenya, in cooperation
with KEMRI. In order to contribute to "Filaria
Elimination Program" by WHO, we collaborate
with Aichi Medical College. In the laboratory,
Brugia malayi, B. pahangi and the vector mosquito,
Aedes aegypti have been maintained for many
years.
２）Amoebiasis, Leishmaniasis, Trypanosomiasis etc.
Genetic epidemiology and cohort studies onamoebiasis and leishmaniasis are carried out incooperation with the International Centre for
Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,
B.) and the University of Virginia. Field sites
include Dhaka and rural areas of Bangladesh. In― 16 ―

Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Technologist
Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
COE Technician

Shinjiro Hamano
Yoshinori Mitsui
Kentaro Kato
Keishi Adachi
Chikako Shimokawa
Shumpei Kambe
Yombo Dan Justin Kalenda
Sachiyo Nagi
Ken-ichi Nobusue
Kyoko Masuda
Masako Hayashida
Fumie Hara
Tomoko Takaya
Megumi Hamasaki

One of our field site in Nepal, South Asia

Host factors will be detected by the Popula-tional
genetic analysis of the patients with DHF andnon DHF.

Department of Immunogenetics
This department is focusing on the pathogenic
genetic factors of the host and the parasite in themost important tropical infectious diseases by using
immunology and genetics.
Research activities:
To clarify the molecular mechanisms in theprotective and/ or pathogenic host response tohuman pathogens such as Dengue Virus, Malaria,
Trypanosoma cruzi and Schistosoma, the following
research projects are going on in our laboratory.
１．Malaria
１）Genetic susceptibility to severe forms ofmalaria (cerebral malaria, severe anemia) isanalyzed by case-control study in South East
Asia, South Pacific and West Africa.
２．Schistosomiasis
１）Immunological regulation of the pathogenic
anti egg response in the resistant and susceptible
persons, to post-schistosomal liver fibrosis in
China and Philippines.
３．Chagas disease１）Genetic susceptibility to different clinicaltypes of chronia Chagas disease, namely,indeterminate, cardiac, and digestive forms, isanalyzed by case control study in Bolivia where
Chagas disease is still highly endemic.
２）Host and Parasite factors influencing on thereactivity to the chemotherapy in the paediatricpatients with chronic Chagas Disease.
３）Genetic analysis of Trypanosomes in Latin
Americas by using local isolates and molecularbiology.
４．Dengu fever:Pasteurlnstitute HCMC(Vietnam)
１）P a t h o g e n e s i s o f t h e D H F ( D e n g u e
Hemorragic Fever)Collaborations:
The research here is performed based on thewell arranged collaborative projects with the following
facilities.
１．Malaria: Thammasat University (Thailand),
Noguchi Memorial Medical Research Institute(Ghana), Karolinska Institute (Sweden), Kenya
Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).
２．Schistosmiasis: Jiangxi Provincial Institute ofParasitic Diseases (China), Jiangsu Provincial
Institute of Parasitic Disease (China), Univ.
Philippines and RITM (Philippines).
３．Chagas Disease: Center of Tropical Medicine,
Sirani Clinic, and Hospital Japones (Bolivia),
IICS University of Asuncion (Paraguay).
Staff
Professor
Kenji Hirayama
Associate Professor
Nobu Ohwatari
Senior Assistant Professor (Project) Mihoko Kikuchi
Assistant Professor
Nguyen Huy Tien
Assistant Professor
Shuaibu Mohammed Nasir
AssistantJunko Hayashima
AssistantShuji Miyazaki
COE Technician
Kuniko Shimoda
Graduate Student
Tran Thi Ngoc Ha
Graduate Student
Del Puerto rodas Ramona Florencia
Graduate Student
Daniel Boamah
Graduate Student (COE Research Fellow) Cherif Mahamoud Sama
Graduate Student (COE Research Fellow) Lam Quoc Bao
Graduate Student
Omar Ahamed Din Hassan
Graduate Student
Mbanefo Evaristus Chibunna
Graduate Student
Yukimi Katagami
Graduate Student
Dang My Nhi

Department of immunogenetics

Experiment scenery― 17 ―

Department of
Eco-epidemiology
April 2008, the Research Center for Tropical
Infectious Diseases was reorganized andtransformed into four groups i.e. two departmentsin the Research Field of Environmental Medicine,
Tropical Medicine Museum and the Kenya stationof Overseas Research Stations.
Therefore, Eco-epidemiology department
inherited its philosophy of research from the
Research Center for Tropical Infectious Diseases,
as one of the departments in the Research Fieldof Environmental Medicine. The mission is tocontribute to the global control of the tropicalinfectious diseases by analyzing the complex factorsthat regulate the endemics and/or epidemics ofthe diseases to find appropriate control measureof the infection.
Professor
Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Research Fellow
Research Fellow
COE Technician
Assistant
Graduate Student
Graduate Student

Masaaki Shimada (Kenya Station)
Satoshi Kaneko
Yoshito Fujii
Kensuke Goto
Masashi Miura
Chihiro Tanigawa
Emi Nakayama
Junichi Tanaka
Ohsuke Komazawa
Tomonori Hoshi

Human beings and vectors, so-called hosts as
a niche of pathogens, exist not statically but
dynamically in time and space. In addition, there
is an infinite diversity in the characteristics ofhosts. We study how microorganism survive,
maintain, proliferate, diminish, disappear andemerge through the niches.
The ultimate purpose of the department is toform a theory for a better understanding of theinterrelationship between hosts and pathogen
and its consequences, diseases.
Ongoing activities are 1) the development
and maintenance of Health and Demographic
Surveillance System (HDSS) in Mbita and Kwale,
Kenya, 2) Development of a Concurrent
Detection method for a wide range of Pathogens
of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Africa,3) A child health cohort study from the viewpointof sociology, anthropology and epidemiology in a
marginal area of Africa, 4)Research on
polyparasitism, 5) Application of the biometrics
authentication to epidemiological studies andsocial
identification in developing countries, 6)Countermeasure of Problem Regarding Health in
Sri Lankaand 7) JICA Partnership Program.

The concept of eco-epidemiology is based on
the view of recognizing tropical diseases as asystem of infection. The aim of our research is tounderstand the process of interaction between
microorganisms, vectors and human beings in
the system. Therefore, the staffs mainly work in
the field at the Kenya Research station ofOverseas Research Stations.

Prof. Kaneko, checking field date with James Kopiyo

Group photo at a symposium held 4th December
2009 at KEMRI

The population pyramid of Suba area.

― 18 ―

Department ofInternational Health
Department of International Health has started
its activities since 2008, following the internal
reform of Institute of Tropical Medicine.
Department of International Health has its basis
on Research Center for Tropical Infectious
Diseases (RECTID) of Institute of Tropical
Medicine established in 2001, Information andReference Center in 1997, and Reference Centerin 1994.
It says that RECTID, a precursor of ourdepartment, had following three activities; 1)
developing the museum of tropical medicine, 2)collecting and disseminating information on tropicalinfectious diseases and 3) promoting joint
research projects and doing epidemiologicalstudies. Out of which, Department ofInternational Health takes over research activities
and adds to its mandate an international
collaboration as a social responsibility anew.
Thus, Department of International Health, asa newly established department, has two pillars,e.g. research and social responsibility.
Research was composed of three units; 1)
research on infectious diseases in ecosystem, 2)
research on the environment including climatechange and Asian dust related to health, 3)
research on biological evolution of microorganisms
from the adaptation or fitness view point. The
umbrella concept or key word linking above threeresearch units is to reconstruct infectious
diseases "temporally" and "spatially" alike.
Infection is the biological interaction between
hosts and microorganisms. In other words, host
behavior, social structure as well as culture per
se affect microorganisms in fitness and adaptation
whereas microorganism has impact on its hosts.

Based on that perception, our department aims
to get more detailed understanding and insighton infectious diseases.
Another pillar is a social responsibility. Now
that even profit oriented organizations are
required to have its corporate social responsibility,
no need to say for academia or university. Out of
the name of our department, it must be nothing
but contribution to international health or people's
health in resource limited settings.
Our department raises following three activities
as international contribution; advocacy oninternational health at national and international
level, health promotion activities and empowerment
at the community/ grassroots' level andemergency relief.
What our department thinks of important inthose activities is to make solidarity in order toimprove people's health and contribute to people's
sustainable development. It is our department's
goal.

― 19 ―

Professor
Associate Professor
Visiting Researcher
Visiting Researcher
Visiting Researcher
Visiting Researcher
Visiting Researcher
Assistant
COE Technician
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Graduate Student

Taro Yamamoto
Junko Okumura
Liang Qin
Hidefumi Fujii
Takayuki Wada
Zhuo Zhang
Taijin Kaku
Akiko Hayashi
Takuya Ezaki
Mika Ohki
Md. Manirul Islam
Katsura Igai
Kenji Mizumoto
Vu Hai Ha
Shuko Takahashi

Department of Vector
Ecology & Environment
Our research interests include anything from
ecology to molecular biology of medically important
arthropods, particularly mosquitoes that transmit
diseases such as malaria and dengue. We are alsointerested in their relationships with environmental
variables and development of environmentallyfriendly vector control strategies.
１．Dengue vectors
As dengue vectors are extending their geographic
distribution, the spread of the disease is being
concerned. It has been suspected that the
expansion of vector distribution is due toenvironmental factors such as climate change.
We are currently mapping their distributions in
Vietnam and Kenya, and examining the relationshipwith environmental factors, and examining the
key environmental factors that contribute toepidemics in Hanoi and Nya Trang.

３．Vector control measures
The coverage of insecticide treated bed nets
has considerably increased in Africa. We areinvestigating whether local residents properly use
and maintain bed nets, and how long bed nets
last. We are also investigating the effects of bed
nets on the species composition of vectors andtheir behavior, and monitoring their insecticide
resistance in Kenya and Malawi. For control tools,
we are testing two new types of mosquito nets
(ceiling net and eave net).
４．Detection of virus in mosquitoes
We collaborate with National Institute of
Infectious Diseases in Japan and National
Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Vietnam
to detect new viruses from a variety of mosquito
species.

２．Malaria vectors
Main malaria vectors belong to a group of
sibling species, and members within a group aremorphologically indistinguishable. We are examining
ecological and physiological differences among
the members within the Anopheles gambiae
complex group and the Anopheles funestus complex
group in East Africa including Malawi. We arealso investigating their geographic distributions inEast Africa. This extensive field survey was
designed to understand the effects of climate
and the Great Rift Valley on their distributions
and evolution.

― 20 ―

Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
COE Research Fellow
Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
Assistant
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Graduate Student

Noboru Minakawa
Hitoshi Kawada
Toshihiko Sunahara
Yukiko Higa
Takashi Tsunoda
Kyoko Futami
Ataru Tsuzuki
Hu Jinping
Chiaki Tsurukawa
Emiko Kawashima
Naoko Mori
Kogomi Minagawa
Chiaki Kimura
Junko Sakemoto
Endang Pujiyati
Nmor Jephtha Christopher
Koji Yamada
Hanako Iwashita
Yusuke Sumita
Eugenio Fonzi

Department ofClinical Medicine
Our research interests are tropical infectious
diseases, respiratory infectious diseases including
TB, and HIV/AIDS. We conduct a wide range ofstudies from basic research with animal models toclinical epidemiology research in and outside Japan.
Specific research activities are described as follows:
１．Respiratory Infections Diseases andTuberculosis
Our goal is to better-understand mechanisms
causing severe and treatment-refractory pneumonias
at molecular levels toward development of a novel
treatment strategy. We hypothesize that an
impaired process in inducing the cessation of
inflammation and re-construction of damaged tissues
plays a central role in the pathogenesis of pneumonia.
Our interest focuses on macrophage function, whichis responsible for clearing apoptotic cells from theinflammation site. We have also developed molecular
assays to identify multiple pathogens causing
respiratory infections and to quantify pneumococcus
bacterial load. These novel assyas are now being
applied for several clinical studies. Furthermore weare now developing a novel assay to evaluate cellularimmune responses to TB antigens.

experts in various fields such as hostgene
polymorphisms, molecular immunology, molecularepidemiology and virology. Furthermore, we areconducting studies on frequencies of opportunistic
infection, the effect of anti-retroviral drug therapy
and the effect of other viral co-infectiou such as
GBV, hepatitis B.
４．Other Infectious Disease Research in thetropics
In collaboration with San Lazaro Hospital, Manila,
the Philippines, we have started research on
leptospirosis, central nervous system infection,
tuberculosis. In collaboration with the Department of
Infectious Diseases, Bac Mai Hospital, Hanoi,
Veitnam, we are conducting clinical epidemiology
studies concerning undiagnosed febrile illness.

２．Pediatric Infectious Diseases in Vietnam
We have conducted studies regarding to clinicaland microbiological diagnosis, antimicrobial susceptibility
and molecular epidemiology in collaboration with
National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology,
Hanoi, Vietnam. Since 2005, we started a large-scaleof community-based survey targeting all residents in
Nha Trang city and its adjacent Nin Hoa district in
the Central Vietnam. During the survey, we collected
information regarding environment and common
diseases burden (pneumonia, diarrhea, dengue
fever), health utilization pattern. Since 2006, wehave dispatched a research clinician to the site andhave been monitoring all pneumonia cases admitted
to the pediatric ward at Kan Hoa General Hospital. In
2009, we commenced a birth cohort study, recruiting
2,000 pairs of mothers and new-born babies, withthe objective of facilitating mother-to-childtransmission studies of various infections and studies
of host-gene polymorphisms associating the severityof pediatric infectious diseases.
３．HIV Cohort Studies in Northern Thailand
In collaboration with National Institute of Health,Thailand and National Institute of Infectious
diseases, Japan, a large scale of cohort study targeting
HIV-infected individuals and their spouses has been
established and maintained in Lampang Hospital,
northern Thailand; nearly 2000 people have participated.
The main objectives of this cohort are to understandmechanisms of resistance to HIV infection among
HIV-exposed but uninfected spouses living with
HIV-infected patients and mechanisms of slowprogression among HIV-infected slowprogressors.
These studies are being conducted in close
collaboration with Thai counter parts and international― 21 ―

Professor
Koya Ariyoshi
Professor
Michio Yasunami
Associate Professor
Konosuke Morimoto
Assistant Professor
Motoi Suzuki
Assistant Professor
Hikaru Sato
Research Associate
Kiwao Watanabe
Visiting Professor
Tomoyuki Maekawa
Visiting Professor
Toshiyuki Miura
COE Research Fellow Naho Tsuchiya
COE Research Assistant
Masahiko Mori
Visiting Researcher
Akiko Takaki
Visiting Researcher
Louie Mar Gangcuangco
Assistant
Mitsuyo Kirie
Assistant
Rina Shiramizu
Assistant
Rika Yamashita
Assistant
Yumi Hamasaki
Assistant
Sayaka Okada
Assistant
Hitomi Nakamura
Research Student
Mayumi Terada
Research Student
Yoshitaka Harada
Research Student
Masahiro Takaki
Research Student
Kei Matsuki
Graduate Student
Yoshiro Yamashita
Graduate Student
Tohru Ogasawara
Graduate Student
Sugihiro Hamaguchi
Graduate Student
Kensuke Takahashi
Graduate Student
Reiko Miyahara
Graduate Student
Le Nhat Minh
Graduate Student
Dhoubhadel Bhim Gopal
Graduate Student
Nobuo Saito
Graduate Student
Takaharu Shimazaki
Graduate Student
Ikumi Shimada
Graduate Student
Satoshi Kakiuchi
Graduate Student
Tomoko Ishifuji
Graduate Student
Hirotomo Yamanashi

Ward round in Khan Hoa HospitalDepartment ofPediatric Infectious Diseases
Activities
The Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
is a recently expanded department under the ClinicalResearch Division at Institute of Tropical Medicine.
We work on a wide range of infectious diseases withspecial attention on severe pediatric infectious
diseases including pneumonia, diarrhea, dengue andmalaria. Our research interests include integration ofclinical, environmental and social issues atinternational, national and local levels.
Pediatric Respiratory Infections
Our department has a strong collaboration with
the Department of Pediatrics of Nagasaki University.
We regularly received clinical samples to identify
viral and bacterial pathogens from pediatric cases
admitted to the Nagasaki University hospital withsevere respiratory infection. We are also conducting
pneumococcal serotyping and antibiotic sensitivity
testing of Streptococcal pneumoniae strains fromcases with invasive pneumococcal diseases inJapan. Currently we are developing an advancemolecular serotyping technique using nanofluidic
technology to determine the S.pneumoniae serotype
directly from clinical samples.
Cohort study on Pediatric Infectious Diseases
in Vietnam
This study is conducted with funding from theJapan Initiative for Global Research Network on
Infectious Diseases (JGRID). Our main counterpart
in Vietnam is the National Institute of Hygiene andEpidemiology (NIHE), Vietnam. We have been
conducting a large population based cohort study on
Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Khanh Hoa
Province, central Vietnam since 2006, to determine
the etiology and risk factors for severe common
pediatric infectious diseases (SPID) like acuterespiratory infection (ARI), diarrhea and dengue
which are the major causes of under 5 mortality. The
study site covers a population of 353,525 residing in
75,826 households with 24,781 children less than 5
years. We conducted population census,
demographic, social-behavioral data collection anddisease burden study on SPID. We also obtained
hospital databases from two hospitals covering theregion. Utilizing these large databases, we were able
to investigate on a variety of SPID in Vietnam. In
addition, to determine incidence, viral etiology andrisk factors for pediatric ARI/pneumonia, we areconducting a population based hospitalized Pediatric
ARI surveillance at Khanh Hoa General Hospital,
Nha-Trang since 2007.
Birth cohort study
Currently we are also conducting a birth cohort
study on 2000 new born babies in Nha Trang,
Vietnam. This study was conducted in collaboration
with the Pediatric Department of Nagasaki University
to study congenital infection and host genetic
factors on physical-neurological development of thechild and development of SPID.
Health impact of global environmental change
Our research interests cover most ofenvironmental epidemiology. Current substantive
research topics of interest, on which we work incollaboration with both international and domesticcolleagues, focus mainly on the impacts of weather
and global climate change on health, but also include
health risks of air pollution.
Ongoing projects include: 1. Effects of flooding andweather on cholera, acute respiratory infections andother infectious diseases in Bangladesh. 2. Oceanatmosphere interaction phenomenons including
Indian Ocean Dipole and its association with malaria
and cholera in the East Africa. 3. Health effects ofAsian dust in the East Asia. 4. Intervention study toprevent heat-related illness in Japan. 5. Excess
mortality due to influenza in Southeast Asia.
Members
Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant
Staff
Graduate student
Graduate student
Graduate student― 22 ―

Masahiro Hashizume
Lay Myint Yoshdia
Nozomi Oka
Akiko Akita
Chisato Imai
Noriko Furuoya
Michiko Toizumi

Department ofClinical Product Development
This is a newly established department inresponse to the Global Strategy on public health,innovation and intellectual property (resolution
WHA61.21). The resolution calls for the enhancementof health-needs driven research and development toaddress diseases that disproportionately affectdeveloping countries. The establishment of thisdepartment was supported by the Department of
Academic and Research Promotion, Ministry of
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology(MEXT), Japan. MEXT continues to support the
department until its full development.
The department focuses on:a) building capacity of individuals for innovation in
health productb) strengthening capability of the local research
institutions in providing an enabling environment,
including infrastructure for product R&Dc) strengthening research institutes network forknowledge sharing and exchange, and for R&D
technology transfer activities. The emphasis will
be on developing products for public healthneeds to address the issues of inequity in health.
d) Development of health products
The operation of this department depends onthe collaboration of existing offices and departments
in NEKKEN and in Nagasaki University, e.g. Office forTraining and Education, Immunogenetics,
Toxicology, Clinical Pharmacy, Parasitology, Clinical
Medicine, Clinical Paediatrics, Center for infectious
disease research in Asia and Africa and the research
institutions and universities in developing countries.
The aim of its operation is to ensure that research
priorities of research institutions are in line with their
public-health needs, in particular the need forinnovative research to address the health problemsof their populations and to contribute to improved
public health in other countries.

clinical data management, good laboratory
practice and etc.
b) Research
1. Development of Shiunko for Cutaneous
Leishmaniasis;
2. Identification and further development of Herbal
MedicineforBreastcancer,Cholangiocarcinoma and Malaria.
c) Network
1. Coordination of Product Research andDevelopment (PRD) Network
2. Coordination of research ethics global networkStrategic Initiative for Developing Capacity in
Ethical Review (SIDCER)
Collaborations:
1. Drug Research Center, Thammasat University,
Bangkok, Thailand
2. SIDCER, National Research Council of Thailand(NRCT), Bangkok,Thailand
3. Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Ministry of
Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
4. Institution of Human Research Protection,
Ministry of Health, Thailand
5. Tokyo University, Tokyo, Japan
6. Government Pharmaceutical Organization,
Bangkok, Thailand
Staff:
Professor
Juntra Laothavorn
Assistant Professor TBA
Assistant
Ikumi Fritz

The activities:a) Training
1. Two- week course on Product Research andDevelopment for public health needs;
2. Three-day course on Bioethics;
3. PhD training as part of actual product development
ie. Shiunko for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis,
Herbal Medicine for Cholangiocarcinoma andMalaria (see model below);
4. PhD training as part of associated product development
processes e.g. ethical issues in product development,― 23 ―

Needs
Identiﬁcation(MOPH)

Network
Identiﬁes
possiblecandidates

Network of
PRD
stakeholders

MOU between
Institutions on
Developing the
product
Access andDeliveryCapacity
Building

Resources
Generation
Development of
Product within the
country or region

Evidence
Generation

Is Product
Viable?

NO

Searching foralternatives

YES

Technology
Transfer to thecountry/region

Center for Infectious Disease
Research in Asia and Africa○Kenya Infectious Disease Research
Program: Kenya Station
OutlineThis project started as a Tropical Medicine,
Emerging Infectious Disease and Clinical
Epidemiological Research Program to Establish
Education and Research System for the collaborationof Kenya and Japan
with Special Funds for
Education and Research by Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-Japan(MEXT) since April 2010. This project has been
operated continuously after Program to Establish
Infectious Disease Research Network which was
operated from September 2005 through March2010 with Special Funds for Education ResearchFunds by MEXT.
The purpose of this project is to develop Kenya
Research station, to provide trainings to young
researchers and to research for treatments andprevention of tropical and emerging infectious diseases.
Progress
1. Establishing of The Station
Kenya research station, Nairobi and research
project sites in Mbita and Kwale have beenequipped by the last project. They still have been
under further development such as network system,lab equipments and vehicles.
2. Posting Researchers From JapanThe members of the station include two professors(including a leader), three administrative staff.
Also, other four professors, an associate professor,
three of assistant professors and a COE research
fellow have supported running our project by
short-term visits.
3. Management for the Long-Term Research andCommunities
In Mbita district, Health Demographic
Surveillance System (HDSS) has been in operationcollecting data of population, births, death toll anddiseases. Also, a malaria surveillance system has
been working on collection and analysis of data ofmalaria mosquitos in the same area.
Consequently, we are planning on a new projectof JICA Partnership Program focusing on school
health in Mbita area as the last project completed
its terms of three years, started in 2009. In thisarea, as a part of community, we set up a lab at
Mbita district hospital in 2010, with the grant

Nairobi Office

Our Members

assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) supported
by Japanese Embassy.
Meanwhile, in Kwale research site, as basic
facilities were set up in 2010, HDSS and parasitology
research have been running.
4. The Study of Tropical Medicine
At the P3 lab at our station and KEMRI (Kenya
Medical Research Institute) Production
Department, we mainly research on malaria andmosquito transmission in Western Kenya, bacterial
and viral diarrheal disease and mosquito-borne
hemorrhagic fever. In Kwale, epidemiological andresearch of schistosomiasis haematobium is goingon. In March 2012, as a new project of JST-JICA(SATREPS) launched, we have been working on
development of KEMRI Production Department
and a KEMRI lab in Busia. Meanwhile, we begun
seroepidemiology project supported by MEXT in
April.
5. Educational Programs
Through our station, three of Kenyan
researchers and doctors have completed Masterof Tropical Medicine at the Institute of Tropical
Medicine, Nagasaki University. Also, a professor
from our station has assisted as an advisor for
Eastern and Southern Africa Centre forInternational Parasite Control (ESACIPAC) in
Kenya.
Every year Kenya station has also given opportunities to students Every year to study in field forthree graduate students from school ofInternational Health Development, Nagasaki
University and medical school students from
Osaka University and Shiga University.
Project Members
Leader and Professor
Professor
Professor
Professor
Professor
Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
COE Research Fellow
Technologist
Staff
Administrative/HR Manager
Chief Accountant
Administrator
Consultant

Yoshio Ichinose (Kenya)
Masaaki Shimada (Kenya)
Noboru Minakawa
Shinjiro Hamano
Masahiro Horio
Satoshi Kaneko
Hitoshi Kawada
Shingo Inoue(Kenya)
Yoshito Fujii
Kyoko Futami
Yukiko Higa(Malawi)
Kensuke Goto
Hu Jinping
Mitsuru Toda (Kenya)
Haruki Kazama (Kenya)
Yukie Saito (Kenya)
Tadahisa Sakata (Kenya)
Tomoka Tawara
Mitsuo Takatoh(Mbita,Kenya)

Mbita Research Site

Kwale Research Site

― 24 ―

Center for Infectious Disease
Research in Asia and Africa○Vietnam Research Station

Outline of the research center
NEKKEN and National Institute of Hygiene andEpidemiology, Vietnam (NIHE) jointly conducted a
project from 2005 on clinical and epidemiologicalresearch on Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious
Diseases (ERID) granted by the Ministry of
Education, Science, Culture and Technology(MEXT) of Japan. Consequently, Vietnam Research
Station was established and a number of research
activities conducted by investigators from both
NEKKEN and NIHE. In the framework of thecollaborative project conducted by two institutes,
researches on the environmental and social factors
influencing outbreaks of zoonosis, vector-borne
infectious diseases, diarrhoea, and childhood
pneumonia have been carried out. Having achievedgoals of aforementioned researches in the firstphase project (2005-2009), the next research
objectives was underlined, which is, clarifying thefactors and their mechanisms in causation of
infectious diseases including ERID. In the second
phase, therefore, we aim to attain aforementioned
objectives and consequently seek for medically andsocially significant achievements by carrying out
research activities. To conduct a worldwide study of
infectious diseases, we have a scope to network
research centers which were established in eight
countries in tropical zone, under the framework of
the Japan Initiative for Global Research Network on
Infectious Diseases (J-GRID).
Research activities
The objectives of the entire project are to clarify
the ecology of pathogens in nature and in humansociety, to clarify the pathogenic mechanism of
human diseases, and to develop an intervention-based
method to inhibit the spread of infectious diseases.
Four research groups will conduct their researches
pursuing their research objectives. Research agenda
are as follows:

Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases ResearchGroup:
1) Study on biological properties, virulence andecological significance of dengue viral quasispecies
in mosquito vectors and humans, 2) A survey ofJapanese encephalitis virus migration, 3) A study ofthe influence of arbovirus on seasonal encephalitis
of unknown origin, 4) A survey of climate change,mosquito vectors, and virus infection, 5) A study ofmosquito vectors, pathogenic mechanism of dengue
fever, and anti-infection measures.
Clinical Research Group:1) Pediatric acute respiratory infection cohort
research study, 2) A birth cohort study, 3) An
immunogenetical analysis of severe dengue fever at
Choray Hospital, 4) Establishment of a clinical andepidemiological research data collection system foranalysis of the fever of unknown origin
Zoonosis Research Group:
1) A viral epidemiological study of bat-borne
infectious diseases, 2) A molecular epidemiologicalstudy of rabies, 3) An epidemiological study ofhantavirus, 4) Development of human monoclonal
antibody with neutralizing activity against avian
influenza (H5N1) strain, 5) An epidemiological studyof avian influenza.
NIHE-Nagasaki University Friendship
Laboratory (NNFL) staff
Leader and Professor Tetsu Yamashiro
Professor
Futoshi Hasebe
Assistant Professor
Takashi Tsunoda
Assistant Professor
Ataru Tsuzuki
Assistant Professor
Kozue Hotta
Research Fellow
Kensuke Takahashi
Administrative Staff
Jiro Hirau
Research AssistantDang Thi Dinh
Research Assistant
Le Thi Thuyen
Research Assistant
Phan Hoai Linh Ly
Research Assistant
Ung Thi Hong Trang
Secretary
Vu Thi Minh Thoa
Assistant
Yumiko Fukuiwa
AssistantKanae Tanaka

Diarrhoea research group:
1) A molecular epidemiological study on kinetics ofenteropathogens after rotavirus vaccine intervention,2) A molecular epidemiological study of Vibrio
cholerae in ecosystem in Vietnam, and 3) Human
animal interface in causation of diarrhoea in
Vietnam.
Japanese staff is providing a basic technique to perform PCR to a Vietnamese staff

A surveillance for mosquito which potentially transmit dengue viruses

Staff of Vietnam Research Center― 25 ―

and People, in March 2009,as part of the Ueno

Tropical Medicine Museum

Yama Decade of Information series of National

Museum of Tropical Medicine was precededby the Tropical Medicine Reference Centre,
which was established in 1974 and was reorganizedin 1997 as Tropical Medicine Reference andInformation Center. In 2001, it was renamed as
Research Center Tropical Infectious Diseases(RECTID) and in 2008 it was established as an
auxiliary institution. The institution performs thefollowing 2 functions.
The institute primarily functions as a museum
and resource center for tropical disease. Currently,
on the 1st floor of the Institute of Tropical Medicine
Nagasaki University, there is a general section
providing information on tropical diseases,
parasites/bacteria/viruses/poisonous insects andspecimen of dangerous animals, valuable books, andMuseum of Nature and Science, Tokyo.
It also functions as an information center forthe dispatch, collection, organization, and analysis
of information on tropical medicine. This has
become an essential component of the daily research
activities related to tropical medicine. Due toinfrastructure rearrangement in 2007, network tools
were updated with technological innovation and long
lasting safety; thus responding to every need of theusers. We also serviced various databases, using a
research evaluation system and a database of thetropical medicine museum. Moreover, we are trying
to provide a similar environment to research
universities overseas with VPN by including videoconferencing system to promote international
conferences and e-learning plans.

displays images of the data. Moreover, it has anaudio-visual room accommodating a few numbers ofpeople. Furthermore, a system is being developedfor using this collection of resources to strengthen
public science and risk communication with thousand
points relating to the history and philosophy of

Head and Professor

Noboru Minakawa

Professor

Masahiro Horio

Technologist

Kazuo Araki

Staff

Akiko Akita

Assistant

Kiyomi Suda

tropical medicines and infection symptoms. In thenear future we would like to expand the exhibition
room to the museum of tropical medicine and canbe used as an educational resource for society
and educators and provide tropical disease related
research and successful results for the public. In
addition, we displayed Africa's Nature, Development,

Ttopical Medicine Museum

The data base server― 26 ―

The mechanisms of oncogenesis associated with

Central Laboratory

infection and inflammation have not been elucidated.
However, many oncogenic mechanisms have been
proposed for infection and inflammation. Activation○Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Investigation of the interactions between microbial
pathogens, vectors and hosts at molecular or genelevels is important for the better understanding ofpathogenesis of various infectious diseases.
Molecular Biology Laboratory has been equippedof NF-κB is also involved cancer development andprogression. Therefore, our research focuses on
the molecular players during the developmentfrom chronic inflammation to cancer.

with 16- and 48-cappilary sequencers forhigh-throughput and high-resolution genetic analysis
of pathogens, vectors and hosts. In addition to general○Electron Microscope Roomlaboratory facilities such as pure water supply,
ultracentrifuge, lyophilizer, Speed-Vac, French press,
Bioruptor, sample storage in liquid nitrogen,pathogens including viral, protozoal and bacterial
speciesas well as to the detailed morphologicalanalysis of host-pathogen interactions by means

bio-safety cabinet, autoclave, dark room and coldroom, the laboratory is also equipped with severalof immuno-histochemical procedures andother moderntechniques. The laboratory isequipped with transmission electron microscope(from JEOL), scanning electron microscope(from JEOL), ultra-microtome (fromReichert),
vacuum coater, critical point dryer system, andosmium plasma coater in addition to generallaboratory facilities for a wide range applicationof electron microscopy, contributing to various
research projects in the institute and collaborations
with the other researchers.

special analyzers such as laser confocal microscope,
flowcytometer, digital cell sorter, Luminex
bead-array system, fluorescence- and luminescencemultilabel counter, fluorescence- and luminescenceimager, mass spectrometry-based genotyping system
to meet a variety of demands of researches of theinstitute as well as those of visiting investigators.
Further, genome sequencer "GS junior" has been
introduced in year 2010.

Electron microscopy has been applied to theinspection of the ultrastructure of most microbial○Laboratory of Pathology
Main purpose of our research is fundamentally
pathological investigation of tropical diseases, mainly
infectious diseases, focused on oncogenic
microbes, and establishes the basis of their treatment
and prevention. Although many investigators
have proposed oncogenesis due to inflammation
associated cancer development, the mechanisms
underlying the relationship between chronic
inflammation and cancer still remain unresolved.
Therefore, our research focuses on the potential roleof oncogenic microbes in the development of cancers,
highlighting the recent advances in the understandingof the molecular mechanisms.
The proportion of total cancer deaths attributable
to infectious agents is estimated to be 20% to 25%
in developing countries and 7% to 10% in industrializedcountries. A causal relationship between chronic
inflammation and cancer is widely accepted.
Specifically, there is a strong association between
tumor viruses and the development of human cancers.

Lab for Genetic Analysis○The Malaria Unit
We are a small and highly driven malariology
group focusing on many different aspects of malaria.
Established in 2011, we believe in a multi-disciplinary
approach to studying malaria, as this enables a broad― 27 ―

understanding of the subject, and therefore facilitates
the development of novel solutions for fighting
the disease. Such a holistic approach to diseaseresearch can only succeed, however, on thefoundation of a solid and detailed understandingof its multi-disciplinary constituents.
Our core belief is that all our research should
produce results that are of potential practical use forfighting the disease. We also strive to engage young
researchers in studies on malaria, and hope toencourage them to develop enthusiasm for usefulscientific research. We believe that scientificresearch should be fun, and try to foster a freethinking
and engaging research environment for students
working with us.
We are interested in all aspects of malariology,
and are currently actively engaged in research projects
involving immunology, genetics, genomics,
evolutionary theory, ecology, epidemiology, andmolecular cell biology.
Collaborative projects with malaria researchers
based in Japan and internationally are of enormous
importance to us, and make up the bulk of the work
we are currently engaged in. At present we are
actively working with researchers from the USA, theRepublic of Congo, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Brazil, theUK and Saudi Arabia.

Animal Research Center
for Tropical Infections
The center makes it the principal aim toensure the safety of animal experiments which
are relevant to the pathogens and to build up thecontinuous production of experimental animals,
and to sustain microorganisms and parasites. The
building consists of seven breeding rooms forexperimental animals, three laboratories, one
breeding room for snails and insects, and a P3level biohazard laboratory.
The temperature of all the rooms is kept ataround 25C all the year round. The air pressure is
kept always negative to avoid outflow frominside. Since the building has the most thoroughventilation through HEPA filters, any microbes
are never released to outside of the building. The
used cages are reused after autoclave-sterilization,and used water is drained off after chlorination.
The laboratory animals bred in the center are
mice, gerbils, snails and mosquitoes. The numberof users in 2011 was around 5,800.
The breeding and experiments are done
according to Nagasaki University Animal
Experiment Regulations.

Head and Professor Shinjiro Hamano
Research Associate Tetsuo Yanagi
AssistantJunko Kawashima

Malaria parasites in their definitive host - the mosquito

Head and Professor

Kouichi Morita

Associate Professor
Assistant Professor

Richard Culleton
Masachika Senba

Assistant
Assistant
Assistant

Akitoyo Ichinose
Kaoru Tanaka
Sarina Hokama
a laboratory in ARCTI― 28 ―

dispatched for a long-term to abroad, San Lazao

Clinic at the University Hospital

Hospital, the Philippines and the infectious diseaseward in Bac Mai Hospital, Vietnam to accumulate ourOur department is the only one department at
the Institute of Tropical Medicine, which has a clinic

knowledge and experience with clinical tropical
medicine.

and a medical ward in the Nagasaki University
Hospital. It has about 15 beds in the International

Professor

Koya Ariyoshi

Medical Center. We specialized in Infectious

Associate Professor

Konosuke Morimoto

Diseases and Respiratory Diseases; diseases that weSenior Lecturer

Akitsugu Furumoto

handle are systemic infectious diseases, including

Assistant Professor

Maiko Kojiro

tropical infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis

Assistant Professor

Nobuo Saito

and pneumonia, and various neoplasmic andFellow Doctor

Masahiro Takaki

inflammatory respiratory diseases. Each year, weFellow Doctor

Takaharu Shimazaki

receive approximately 200˜300 consultations from

Fellow Doctor

Tomoko Ishifuji

other departments, regarding diagnosis andFellow Doctor

Kentaro Sakashita

management of infectious diseases. The outpatient

Fellow Doctor

Hirotomo Yamanashi

clinic is open two days a week where we also run a

Fellow Doctor

Emi Kitashoji

travel clinic for international travelers.

Fellow Doctor

Kotuke Matsui

For research we are involved in various clinical

Senior Resident

Kentaro Hayashi

trials such as chemotherapy for lung cancer,

Senior Resident

Reina Osawa

antimicrobial drugs, GM-CSF therapy for pulmonary

Assistant

Ayako Kitamura

alveolar proteinosis. Recently we have evaluated theclinical significance of transbronchial biopsy using
Endobronchial Ultrasonography (EBUS) with a guide
sheath. We are also investigating the pathogenesis ofanti-GM-CSF antibody negative primary pulmonary
alveolar proteinosis and familial pulmonary fibrosis.
For training and education, bisides training
programs for resident physicians, we provide a numberof lectures on infectious diseases and respiratory
diseases to undergraduate students. We are responsible
for organizing a clinical case conference of tropicalinfectious diseases as a part of Master of Tropical
Medicine course, Graduate School of Biomedical
Sciences. Staff doctors and resident doctors are regularly

Staff members― 29 ―

Infectious diseases conferenceNumber of Staﬀ
Divisions

Professor

Enrollment

14（4）(as of May, 2012)

Associate
Lecturer
Professor
62

Assistant Research
Sub total
Professor Associate

Others

Total

13
（13）

9
（10）

46
（27）

2

37
（17）

※ ( ) number of fixed-term staff

Accounting
Revenue(in 2011)

Expenditure(in 2011)

Divisions

Amount (in thousands)

Divisions

Amount (in thousands)

Tuition and Admission Fees

2,392

Personnel expenses

610,084

Others230

the cost of equipment

449,229

Total

2,622

Total

1,059,313

Grant-in-Aid for Scientiﬁc Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology(in 2011)

Scientific
Challenging Research
YoungType of
Scientific
Scientific
Scientific
Scientific
Research on
Exploratory Activity
Scientists（B）
Research Research（A）Research（B） Research（B） Research（C） ResearchInnovative Areas
Start-up

Total

Number of
Grants

2

10

３

7

7

1

６

2

38

Amount(in thousands)

30,42039,004

3,950

11,70012,8701,508

10,01047,424

156,886

Facilities & Administrative costs included

Grant-in-Aid for Scientiﬁc Research from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Type of
Research（in 2011）

Emerging andResearch on
Global HealthRe-emerging
health security
Issue
Infectious Diseases
control

AIDS
Control

ClinicalCancer

Total

Number of
Grants

1

4

4

3

１

13

Amount(in thousands)

3,700

14,011

8,450

7,500

1,000

34,661― 30 ―

Subsidy(in 2011)

Type of
Research

Grant-in-Aid
for Forming
Research
Locations etc(Global COE)

National
Bio-resource
Project (NBRP)

SpecialCoordination
Funds forPromoting
Science andTechnology of
the Ministry of
Education,
Culture, Sports,
Science andTechnology

Amount(in thousands)

199,093

3,700

52,764External Funding

Strategic Young
Researcher
Overseas
VisitsProgram for
Accelerating
Brain
Circulation

The Researcher
Exchanges
Program

22,56811(in 2011)

Divisions

Joint Research with
Private Sectors

Commissioned
Research

Commissioned
Project

Endowments

Number of Sources

２

13

3

23

Amount (in thousands)

1,250

423,949

22,34640,049

Facilities & Administrative costs included

Agreement of Educational, Scientiﬁc and Scholarly Exchange○Overseas
Name of organization of partner countries

Concluded date

Chiang Mai University (Thailand)
Mahidol University (Thailand)
University of the Philippines Diliman (Philippines)
National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (Vietnam)
Airlangga University (Indonesia)
St. Luke's Medical Center (Philippines)
San Lazaro Hospital Medical Center (Philippines)
Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kenya)
Thammasat University (Thailand)
Defence Research and Development Establishment (India)
National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service (South Africa)
China Medical University (China)
Peking Union Medical College (China)
Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases (China)

February，1988
November，1999
April, 2001
June, 2001
January, 2004
February, 2004
August, 2004
November, 2004
March, 2006
January, 2010
July, 2010
September, 2010
September, 2010
September, 2010

○Domestic
Name of organization of partner
The Research Institute of Tuberculosis Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association― 31 ―

Concluded date
March, 2009

Telephone Number
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University

０９５ （８１９） ７８００
Extension

Direct dialing

Dean ……………………………………………………………………７８０１
Head of Administrative Office ………………………………………７８０２
Expert Staff ………………………………………………………………７８１３
Chief of General Affairs Unit …………………………………………４７０２
General Affairs Unit ……………………………………………………７８０３
Dean Secretary …………………………………………………………７８５８
Chief of Accounting and Facilities Management Unit ……………４７０６
Accounting and Facilities Management Unit ………………………７８０７
Accounting and Facilities Management Unit ………………………７８１６
Chief of Overseas Research Station Unit ……………………………４７０９
Overseas Research Station Unit ………………………………………７８０６
Facsimile …………………………………………………………………７８０５
Main Meeting Room ……………………………………………………４７１１
Meeting Room …………………………………………………………７８７０
Department of Virology
Professor ………………………………………………………７８２７Associate Professor ……………………………………………７８２８
Information ………………………………………………………７８２９
Facsimile …………………………………………………………７８３０
Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases
Professor ………………………………………………………７８４８
Staff room ………………………………………………………７８４９
Laboratory ………………………………………………………７８５０
Information ………………………………………………………７８５１
Department of Bacteriology
Professor …………………………………………………………７８３１
Lab.2 ……………………………………………………………７８３２
Lab.1,Lab.3 ………………………………………………………７８３３
Facsimile …………………………………………………………７８７７
Department of Protozoology
Professor ………………………………………………………７８３５
Lab.2 ……………………………………………………………７８３６
Lab.1 ……………………………………………………………７８３７
Information ………………………………………………………７８３８
Laboratory ………………………………………………………７８１５
Department of Parasitology
Professor ………………………………………………………７８２２
Staff room ………………………………………………………７８２３
Facsimile …………………………………………………………７８２４
Information ………………………………………………………７８２５
Department of Immunogenetics
Professor ………………………………………………………７８１８
Assistant Professor ……………………………………………７８１９
Information ………………………………………………………７８２０
Facsimile …………………………………………………………７８２１

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８１９−７８０３― 32 ―

８１９−７８５８
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Extension
Extensions Department of Pathology
Assistant Professor ……………………………………………７８１４
Department of Eco-epidemiology
Professor ………………………………………………………７８６４
Staff room ………………………………………………………７８６６
Staff room ………………………………………………………７８６７
Lab.1 ……………………………………………………………７８５４
Information ………………………………………………………７８６６
Department of International HealthProfessor ………………………………………………………７８６９
Lab.1 ……………………………………………………………７８０８
Information ………………………………………………………７８６９
Department of Vector Ecology and Environment
Professor ………………………………………………………７８１０
Staff room ………………………………………………………７８１１
Information ………………………………………………………７８０９
Facsimile …………………………………………………………７８１２
Department of Clinical Medicine
Professor ………………………………………………………７８４０
Professor ………………………………………………………７８５７
Associate Professor ……………………………………………７８７３
Information ………………………………………………………７８４１
Information ………………………………………………………７８４２
Facsimile …………………………………………………………７８４３
Department of pediatric Infectious Diseases
Professor …………………………………………………………７７６３
Associate Professor ……………………………………………７２８４
Information ………………………………………………………７７６４
Department of Clinical Product Development
Professor …………………………………………………………７２８５
Information ………………………………………………………７５５８
Center for Infectious Disease Research in Asia and Africa
Kenya Research Station Professor ……………………………７８６０
Vietnam Research Station Professor …………………………７８７６
Animal Research Center for Tropical Infections
Office ……………………………………………………………７８５６
Tropical Medicine Museum
Professor ………………………………………………………７８１７
Information ………………………………………………………７８６８
Central Laboratory
Electron Microscope Room ……………………………………７８５９
Laboratory of Molecular Biology ………………………………７８５７The Malaria Unit ………………………………………………７９０３― 33 ―

Direct dialing
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Loction map of the Institute ofTropical Medicine on SakamotoCampus of Nagasaki University

PlaygroundGymnasium

Laboratory Animal Center
for Biomedical Research

Parking
Second Building of
教員研究棟 building
Researcher
the Atomic Bomb
（156㎡）
Disease Institute
熱帯医学ミ
ュージアム
（1階）
TropicalMedicine
Musiumアジア
・アフ(In partofリカ感染症
the 1st Floor)
研究施設
（2階）
Research in
Asia andAfricaParking(In part of the 2st Floor)

Radioisotope
Center
Sub-Gate

Main Building of
熱帯医学研究所本館
the Institute of（7,782㎡）
TropicalMedicine（7,782㎡）

School of Medicine
AtomicDiseaseInstitute

Animal Research Center for
熱帯性病原体感染動物実験施設（490㎡）
TropicalInfections（490㎡）

Main-Gate
MedicalBranchLibrary
Commemoration
Hall

Pompe
Hall

Back Gate

Ｎ

Alumni Hall
for University Hospital
RyoJunHall― 34 ―

Loction map of Institute of Tropical Medicine,
Nagasaki University in Nagasaki City▲
Mt.InasaN

Ropeway

Nagasaki Bay

fo

UrakamirKog

r AkasakoakurHamaguchi Matsuyama-machiUrakamieki -machi-maeaNagasakiIgakubu-mae
School of
Dentistry

Ohato

Ohashi fo

Nagasakieki-mae

University
Hospital

School ofMedicine

Urakamitensyudo-mae

Ishibasi
Tsukimachi

Prefectural OfficeInstitute of Tropical
Medicine

City Hall

Chuobashi

Kokaido-mae
Suwajinja-mae

JR Kyusyu
Electric Tramway

Shokakuji-shita

Main bus routefor Mogi

for Hotarujaya

How to get the Institute○From JR Nagasaki Station▲Electric Tramway Nagasaki Station → (bound for Akasako) → Hamaguchi-machi→ about 10-minute walkNagasaki Bus
Nagasaki Station → (No.8 bound for Shimoohashi via School of
Medicine) → School of Medicine○From JR Urakami Station▲Electric Tramway Urakami Station → (bound for Akasako) → Hamaguchi-machi →about 10-minute walk
○From Nagasaki Airport▲Kenei Bus
Nagasaki Airport No.4 Bus Stop → (bound for Nagasaki City via
Showa-machi and Urakami) → Urakami Station → refer to FromJR Urakami Station above
Location
1-12-4 Sakamoto Nagasaki 852-8523
URL http://www.tm.nagasaki-u.ac.jp
Published on July, 31 2012
Edited by Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University
Printed by H.P.daiichi, 23-17 Houei-machi, Nagasaki 852-8016, Japan