Nagasaki University

Institute ofTropical Medicine

2018Mission Statement
The tropics, the most ecologically diverse region on the Earth, presents an ongoing complexityof tropical diseases and other health problems. In view of the remarkable advances made in the field ofinternational exchange in recent years, it is imperative that these 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 health problems associatedwith them, in cooperation with related institutions, to strive for excellence in the following areas:
1. Spear-head research in tropical medicine and international health
2. Global contribution through disease control and health promotionin the tropics by applying the fruits of the research
3. Cultivation of the researchers and specialists in the above fields

Organizational Chart
Nagasaki University
Hospital

Microbiology and Parasitology
Department of Virology

Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases

Department of Bacteriology

Department of Protozoology

Department of Parasitology

Department of Molecular Epidemiology(Overseas Visiting Professor)

Steering
Cmte ITM

Dean

Department of Clinical Medicine

Depanment of
Pathology

Management
Meeting

Associated Facilities

01

Center for Infectious Disease Research in Asia and Africa

Department of
Host-Defense Biochemistry

Kenya Research Station

Department of Preventive
Medicine and AIDS Research

Public and Environmental Health
Department of
Eco-epidemiology

Department ofInternational Health

Department of Global Health
Development Policy Sciences

Department of Vector
Ecology and Environment

Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Department of Clinical Product Development

Host and Vector Biology
Department of
lmmunogenetics

Department of
Infections Diseases

Clinical Medicine and Research

Steering Cmte
RCTD
Faculty
Meeting

Internal
Medicine

Vietnam Research Station

Tropical Medicine Museum
Central Research Laboratory

NEKKENOﬃce for Training and Education
NEKKEN BioResource Center
NTD Innovation CenterOﬃce of Coordination for Humanitarian Aﬀairs

Towards Eradication of
Tropical Infectious Diseases
Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University is a unique governmental
institution for research on tropical medicine. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,

H istory
1942.3Tropical Disease” in 2009. This recognition underlines the importance of NEKKEN as anopen institute whose resources are freely available to the whole research community inJapan. Since 1993, the World Health Organization has been designating NEKKEN a WHO
Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Tropical Viral Diseases. The current

1946.4
1949.5
1967.6

facilities, and one clinical unit at University hospital.

1967.6

Many developing countries are located in the tropics, and are affected by a diverse

Institute of Endemics, N.M.C
Institute of Endemics, Nagasaki
University, under postwar schemeorganization of the institute involves four major research fields (15 departments), twogroup of tropical diseases, and emerging infectious diseases. In view of the remarkable

East Asia Institute of Endemics as
Nagasaki Medical College affiliate

Science and Technology (MEXT) designated NEKKEN as a “Joint usage / Research Center on

Institute of Tropical Medicine, N.U.
Added the Ward Tropical Internal
Medicine, to University Hospital

1978.4

Diploma course, Kensyu-katei

advances made in the field of international transportation and communication in recent

1983.4

JICA Researcher Group-Course

years, the industrialized countries of the temperate zones are also threatened by the same

1989.5

Certified as Joint Usage Researchpathogens and it is imperative that they are addressed from a global perspective. Based on
this paradigm, NEKKEN aims to overcome tropical and emerging infectious diseases, andthe various related health problems in the tropics, in cooperation with related institutions,and to strive for excellence in the following areas:

Center1993.11

WHO Collaboration Center

1995.4

Certified as Center of Excellence, COE

1997.4

1. Spear-head research in tropical medicine and global health
2. International contribution through disease control and health promotion in the tropics
3. Cultivation of the researchers and specialists in the above fields

2003.4

COE program 21st Century Global
Strategy against Tropical & Emerging

This pamphlet offers a brief but hopefully intelligible explanation of our organization andits activities. As you will see, our research activities address major tropical diseases suchas malaria, schistosomiasis, dengue fever, and yellow fever, and emerging and re-emerging
infections such as HIV/AIDS, SARS, Ebola and Tuberculosis. We conduct basic medical

Infection
2006.42008.4

investigate Entomology, Ecology and Social sciences. NEKKEN is also contributing
education of students in PhD and Master as part of the Graduate School of Biomedical

2008.6

You will also find information about our research facilities in Kenya and in Vietnam.
Hopefully you can understand our intention of research and education and will support
Kenji Hirayama
Dean and Professor
NEKKEN
May, 2018

Added Museum and Asia / Africa
COE

programComprehensive

Global Strategy against Tropical &Sciences and the Graduate School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health of Nagasaki
University. In addition, NEKKEN provides a three-month training course on tropical medicine.

Tropical Medicine Master’s Course
Facilities

sciences, epidemiology and clinical research for disease prevention and control. We also

us in future.

Added a branch Tropical Infection
Research Center

Emerging Infection
2009.6

Certified as Tropical-medicine Joint
Usage / Research Center2011.42012.4

Added two clinical-field departments
Global Leader Course for Tropical& Emerging Infection Intervention

2017.1175th anniversary ceremony

02

Joint Usage / Research Center on Tropical Disease
Our institute is the one and only public sector

field where infectious diseases are prevailing, making use

supported by MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture,of the facilities like Asia and Africa Research Stations andSports, Science and Technology, Japan) that aims to do thecohorts maintained by the institute.

research on tropical diseases, and identified as the Joint

resource center for information and biological samples

usage / Research Center on Tropical Disease.

related to infectious diseases spreading globally.

1. The Goal of the Center

2. Outline of the Center Activity

The infectious diseases are caused by the collapse of

It also serves as a

The Joint usage / Research Center on Tropicalsymbiosis with other creatures, which cannot be avoided if

Medicine supports collaborative research, which is either

we, human being, live in the nature. Although the ultimate

basic or applied research based upon epidemiological,

aim of this center is to eradicate infectious diseases, it isclinical or public health framework and also supports

needed rather to establish reciprocal relationship withresearch meeting, which promotes and facilitates the

other

Such

research of infectious diseases through exchanging

establishment of reciprocal relationship requires theinformation or technologies necessary. The Centercollective knowledge, which can be achieved only byserves as a bio-resource center to deliver infectious

combining a broad aspect of disciplines.

agents, information, and etc. collected and stored here.

creatures

than

to

eliminatethem.

The Tropical Infectious Diseases have been spreadingin the tropical area, which is the reflection of environmentandsocio-economic

situation

existedthere.

Itis

3. Operational Organization of the Center

As for administration of this research center, the deanconsidered to be a big challenge related to health. As aof the Institute of Tropical Medicine established thematter of fact, emerging and re-emerging infectious

Steering Committee for the Center, which is composed of

diseases have been spreading globally with tropical area

11 members, out of whom more than half should bebeing its epicenter. The tropical area is not only the battle

outside the university concerned. The Steering Committee

field where we, human being, fight against them but also

is responsible for adoption of the applications andthe experimental ground where we newly create andmonitoring and evaluation of the activities.
In order to support activities above mentioned, thedevelop our knowledge and technology alike in order tospecific administrative office supporting the Center iscontrol infectious diseases.
The Joint usage / Research Center on Tropical Disease
is to accomplish with the members in the diverse scientificallocated in the institute and a professor was designatedto be a section chief.

communities collaborative researches rooted upon theConcept Diagram
Steering Committee for the Institute of Tropical Medicine (Committee Member outside the university)
Shigeyuki Kano（National Center for Global Health and Medicine）
Norio Ohmagari（National Center for Global Health and Medicine），Gakunan Gen（Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine）
Tiho Watanabe（National Institute for Environmental Studies），Hitoshi Oshitani（Tohoku University）
Hiroyoshi Endo（St.Luke's International University）
Steering Committee for the joint usage / Research Center on Tropical Disease（Committee Member outside the university）
Shinichiro Kawazu（Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine）
Sohkichi Matsumoto（Niigata University），Akira Nishizono（Oita University），Takayuki Miyazawa（Kyoto University）
Manabu Ato（National Institute of Infectious Diseases），Satoshi Sasaki（The University of Tokyo）
Rintaro Mori（National Center for Child Health and Development），Kyoko Sawabe(National Institute of Infectious Diseases)
The Institute ofTropical Medicine
Dean
Advice / Report

Steering Committee for the joint usage /Research Center on Tropical Disease

Researchers’Communities

Discuss important matters on its
management

a member of the committee

Expert advisors

Discuss specialized matters that are inquired

The Joint Usage / Research Center on
Tropical Disease Oﬃce
Support for its management and follow
the intention of the committee

03

Send a delegate/delegates as
to address opinions from
communities

Research Grants
A collaborative Research Topic
A collaborative Research Topic
A collaborative Research Topic

Accounting (FY2017)

Amount（in thousands of yen）

Endowment（External Fund）
25,021

Commissioned Project（External Fund）
34,086

Endowment（External Fund）
28,435

Others11,318Commissioned Project（External Fund）
34,086

Administrative
cost subsidy
671,225

RevenueCommissioned Research（External Fund）
1,011,249
Joint Research（External Fund）
43,879Administrative
cost subsidy
671,225

Expenditure

Commissioned
Research（External Fund）
810,681（thousand JPY）
Total
1,956,797

Others11,318（thousand JPY）
Total
1,748,829

Non-subsidy income
at Nagasaki University
160,019

Joint Research（External Fund）
32,894

Non-subsidy income
at Nagasaki University
160,190

External Fund (FY2017)
Amount（in thousands of yen）
1,200,000

1,125,553
87

1,011,249

1,000,000

Numberof grants
100
80

800,000

60

600,000
31

400,000

19

200,000

25,021
34,086

Joint Research with
Private Sectors

Facilities & Administrative
costs included

11,318

6

43,879

0

40

29

20
2

Commissioned Commissioned
Research
Project

Endowments

Others0

Total

Number of Staf f （as of May 1 ,2018）
Professor

Associate
Professor

Senior AssistantProfessor

Assistant
Professor

Sub total

Others

Total

13

7

3

31

54

15

69

Grants-in-aid for Scientiﬁc Research （KAKENHI）（MEXT）（FY2017）
Amount（in thousands of yen）
200,000

174,910 4540

150,000

0

17,81044,590100,000
50,000

Numberof Grants
50

51,610
5

23,660

12

10
4

30

16,6403,510
92ScientiﬁcScientiﬁcScientiﬁcScientiﬁc Challenging
Research(A) Research(B) Research(B) Research(C) Exploratory(General)(Overseas(General)(General)Research
AcademicResearch)

20

2,530

14,5602

Young
Scientists
(B)

JSPS
Research
Fellow

101
Research
Activity
Start-up

Total

0

04

This Department has been conducting basic

Research on the pathogenicity of arboviruses

and applied research on arthropod-borne viruses

and evaluation of therapeutic compounds using

Microbiology
and Parasitology(arboviruses) such as Japanese encephalitis virus

animal model.

Department of
Virology(JEV), dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus, Chikungunya

We elucidate the mechanism of pathogenicity

virus (CHIKV) and severe fever with thrombocytopenia

and infectivity of arboviruses, such as DENV andsyndrome virus (SFTSV).

SFTSV by using a mouse model.

Molecular epidemiology of arboviruses

Development of rapid diagnostic assay for

We isolate DENV, JEV and CHIKV in Asia

infectious diseases

and African regions and conduct molecular

Various rapid diagnostics are being developed

epidemiological analysis to determine international

for arboviruses using PCR, LAMP, LC/MS andand inter-continental movement of these viruses.

Immuno-chromatographic technologies for the

We also analyze unique genome sequences that

detection of viral genome, protein and specificare relevant to pathogenicity.

antibodies.

Researchonvaccinedevelopment

using

Activities as a WHO Collaborating Center

reverse genetics

The department is designated as a WHO

We have developed DENV infectious clones

Professor

Kouichi Morita
Associate Professor

Moi Meng Ling
Associate Professor

Shingo Inoue

Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on

and identified viral determinants by modifying

Tropical Viral Diseases since 1993 and currently our

various parts of the genes. We are currently

department has been re-designated as a center for

developing genetically engineered viruses as

Tropical and Emerging Virus Diseases. The centercandidates for live attenuated DENV vaccines by

has been collaborating with WHO in training WHO

financial support of GHIT.

fellows from many developing countries and has
deployed experts as WHO short-term consultants.

Associate Professor

Daisuke Hayasaka

1. Urakami et.al., J Virol., 91:e01181-17, 2017.
2. Toda et.al., PLoS One., 19;12(6):e0179408, 2017.
3. Moi et.al., Lancet Infect. Dis. 17:805-806, 2017.
4. Kyaw et.al., Epidemiol Infect., Vol.145:1886-1897, 2017.
5. Mya et.al., JJID., 70:357-361, 2017.

Assistant Professor

Takeshi Nabeshima
Assistant Professor

Mya Myat Ngwe Tun

We are working on the basic and appliedresearch to develop the countermeasures against

Microbiology
and Parasitology

Department of Emerging
Infectious Diseases

emerging

infectious

diseases,

especiallyviralhemorrhagic fevers and influenza.

Development of detection methods for highly
pathogenic viruses

In case of outbreak of emerging infectious

diseases, rapid and accurate diagnoses are essential
toResearch subjects:

control

infectionandtoprevent

furthertransmission. We have developed novel diagnostic

Analyses of replication mechanisms of highly
pathogenic viruses

In infected cells, the viruses replicate using

various cellular machinery and release a large

assays for emerging viral diseases.
Research studies on viral diseases in Gabon republic
The followings are aims of this project; 1) tonumber of progeny virions. Our interests are toinvestigate prevalence of known and unidentified viralclarifyvirus

diseases in Gabon through genetical and serologicalreplication in host cells. We are currently analyzingthemolecular

mechanismsofassays, 2) to determine characteristics including

the molecular interactions between viral proteins

genetic information and pathogenicity of viruses

and cellular factors in infected cells. Especially, we

which are regarded as public health concern andare focusing on highly pathogenic viruses, such as

those newly identified in Gabon, and 3) to develop

Ebola, Marburg, Lassa and Influenza viruses.

rapid diagnostic methods for viral diseases of publichealth concern and/or those newly identified;

Development of novel antiviral strategies

To establish novel antiviral strategies against

viral hemorrhagic fevers and influenza, we are

Research studies on Lassa fever in Nigeria

Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever andidentifying the cellular factors which have antiviral

now endemic in West African countries. Annuallyactivity and analyzing the molecular mechanisms of

300,000 -500,000 peoples are infected with Lassa

Professor

their antiviral action. We are also doing high-throughput

virus and 5,000 patients have died in Lassa fever

screening of organic and chemical compound libraries forevery year. We are carrying on the epidemiological

Assistant Professor

antiviral drug discovery against viral hemorrhagic fevers.

studies,Jiro Yasuda
Yohei Kurosaki
Assistant Professor

Shuzo Uratathedevelopment

ofAssistant Professor

Rokusuke Yoshikawa

05

diagnostic

fever in collaboration with a Nigerian group.

Assistant Professor

Haruka Abe

novel

methods and the pathological studies on Lassa

1. Kurosaki et al., Sci Rep, 2017.
2. Oloniniyi et al., J Virol Meth, 2017.
3. Kurosaki et al., J Infect Dis, 2016.
4. Kurosaki et al., PLOS NTDs, 2016.
5. Urata et al., J Virol, 2016.

Microbiology
and Parasitology

Department ofBacteriology

Senior Assistant Professor

Akihiro Wada

Our major research interest is to elucidate the
etiologic agents isolated from pathogenic bacteria
related to the worldwide emerging and reemerging
diseases and to know the virulence mechanisms ofbacterial pathogens.
Helicobacter pylori is a bacterial pathogen found in
the stomach mucosa of more than 50% of the world
population and more common (over 80%) in developing
and tropical countries. Infection with H. pylori plays amajor role in the development of chronic gastritis andpeptic 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 andgastric 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 phos-phorylation of G proteincoupled
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-2- mediated 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,

Assistant Professor

Masayuki Nakano

Laboratory

Microbiology
and Parasitology

Department ofProtozoology

Virulence mechanism of Helicobacter pylori
vacuolating cytotoxin, VacA

which were defined by sequence differences in the
middle of the molecules, interacted with target cells bybinding to two types of receptor-like protein tyrosine
phosphatases (RPTPs), i. e., RPTPα and RPTPβ, resulting
in toxin internalization and vacuolation of the humangastric adeno-carcinoma cell lines AZ-521 and G 401 [5].
By analysis of the pathological responses of wild type
and RPTPβ-deficient mice to oral administration of
VacA, we found that RPTPβ functions as a receptor for
VacA and produces the disease associated with VacA
toxicity including gastritis and gastric ulcer [3].
More recently, we purified from AZ-521 cells, ahuman gastric epithelial ell line, a surface membraneprotein, p500, which binds VacA, and identified it as
low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1).
LRP1 binding of VacA was shown to be specifically
responsible for VacA-induced autophagy and apoptosis,
but not activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling
pathway. Similar to RPTPα and RPTPß, LRP1 mediates
VacA internalization in AZ-521 cells, but in contrast to
RPTPα and RPTPß, LRP1 targeted downstream pathways
leading to autophagy and apoptosis. VacA-induced
autophagy via LRP1 binding precedes apoptosis
suggesting that an excessive autophagic activity can also
lead to cell death. This is the first study to provide
evidencethat
LRP1
mediates
autophagy[8].
Surprisingly, CagA, which is an oncogenic protein
injected by its type IV secretion system into host cells,
was degraded by autophagy induced by m1 VacA, but
not m2 VacA, whereas CagA in CD44v9-expressing
cancer stem-like cells escaped this autophagy system,
resulting in accumulation of CagA in cells.
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. hem., 279:7024-7028, 2004.
5. J. Biol. Chem. 278:19183-19189, 2003.

Malaria is responsible for a huge burden

the parasite’s life cycle, such as the molecularof death and disease in large areas of theinteractions and signaling mechanisms behindtropical and sub-tropical world. Unfortunately,

red blood cell (RBC) invasion and the phenomenon

those countries hardest hit by the disease areof cytoadherence of parasite-infected RBCs.

often amongst the poorest. Despite continuing

We utilize a variety of malaria parasites including

efforts, there is still no effective vaccine

human-infecting Plasmodium falciparum, theagainst the disease. In order to design androdent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii, andimplementintervention

Plasmodium knowlesi a causative agent of zoonotic

strategies, we believe that one of the key

human malaria. To expand a platform for basic

priorities in malaria research should be theand clinical malaria research, we are investigating

strengthening of our understanding of thethe molecular epidemiology of malaria parasites

basic biology of the parasite. We are currently

in endemic countries, the biology of Plasmodium

effective

diseaseinvestigating some fundamental aspects ofvivax hypnozoites, and the establishment of anovel malaria model using ungulate Plasmodium.
In addition, we are also conducting research
about the function and expression mechanismof trans-sialidase and the stage specificadaptation mechanisms of Trypanosma cruzi that

Professor

Osamu Kaneko

Senior Assistant Professor

Haruki Uemura

cause Chagas disease. Also we are investigating
Fig.1 RBC invasion by P. yoelii . Merozoite-stage parasite(arrowhead) invades into RBC within 30 seconds (0 25 s) and deforms RBC to spike-like shape (85 s).

Assistant Professor

the molecular basis of host cell invasion andmodification of Babesia parasites that cause
Babesiosis in cattle and the development of genetic
manipulation techniques for piroplasm parasites

Kazuhide Yahata
Assistant Professor

Masahito Asada
Fig.2 Colocalization of recombinant PkSBP1 protein (green) and
Giemsa-stained 'Sinton and Mulligan' stipplings in monkey
erythrocytes infected with PkSBP1-transgenic P. knowlesi .

1. Kegawa et al., Parasitol Int., 67: 706-14, 2018.
2. Asare et al., Parasitol Int., 67: 481-92, 2018.
3. Kaewthamasorn et al., Sci Rep., 8: 5827, 2018.
4. Asada et al., Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl., 7: 44-7, 2018.
5. Gitaka et al., Malar J., 16: 98, 2017.

06

Various kinds of parasites infect humans

Technology Fund (GHIT). In the laboratory, we

for long periods of time without killing them,

maintain Schistosoma mansoni, its intermediate

Microbiology
and Parasitology

giving rise to tremendous afflictions, social

snail, Brugia malayi, B. pahangi and Aedes aegypti.

and/or economic loss. We would like to develop

In 2017, we have just started “DeWorm3”

deep insight into parasitic diseases and the

project in Japan which is supported by the Bill

Department of
Parasitology

surrounding factors from various points of view

& Melinda Gates Foundation as a collaboration

through both field and laboratory studies. Ourwith the Natural History Museum, London.

goal is to contribute to new knowledge and toprovide an enthusiastic environment for the

We study host defense mechanisms

training of the future generation of investigators.

against Leishmania spp, and in the process,have elucidated the function of the IL-12

We

Professor

have

been

researchingparasitic

infection. We initiated developing the live

Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)

attenuated vaccine to leishmaniasis by editing

and Maseno University. In 2017, we have justa gene using CRISPR-Cas9 system with thestarted a new project on schistosomiasis

support from GHIT in 2015. In addition, wewith the support from MEXT Grant-in-Aid

developed animal models of intestinal amoebiasis

for Scientific Research (A). We are trying

together with Prof. Houpt at University of

to develop ideal diagnostic methods with

Virginia, we elucidated the pathogenicity ofthe support from Global Health Innovative

Entamoeba moshkovskii, and now are devoting
ourselves to the study on molecular basis of

Shinjiro Hamano

pathogenicity of E. histolytica and host defense

Assistant Professor

Yoshinori Mitsuimechanisms to it.

Assistant Professor

Risa Nakamura

1. Moriyasu T et al., PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis., 12(1): e0006197,
2018.
2. Deloer S et al., Parasitol Int., 66(6): 817-823, 2017.
3. Chadeka E et al., PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis., 11(9): e0005872,
2017.
4. Mi-ichi F et al., PLoS Pathogens, 12(10): e1005845, 2016.
5. Kalenda YDJ et al., Parasitol Int., 64(6): 503-512, 2015.

Technologist

Megumi Hamasaki

Host and VectoｒBiology

Department of
lmmunogenetics

This department primarily focuses on the fundamental
insights of the pathogenic genetic factors of the hostand the pathogens in relation to the most important
tropical infectious diseases through the application of
immunology and genetics. With the understanding of the
dynamic host-pathogen relationship and available
resources, we are further concerned with the developmentof new ways to fight against these diseases including
novel therapeutics (drugs) or vaccine strategies.
Research activities:
To clarify the molecular mechanisms in the protective and/or pathogenic host response to selected humanpathogens such as Dengue virus, Plasmodium spp andTrypanosoma cruzi, and to discover the ways to combat
these tropical diseases, our department has thefollowing ongoing research projects (major ones).
1. Malaria
1) Genetic analysis of malaria
2) Vaccine development* Plasmodium yoelii Transamidase-related protein (PyTAM)
based vaccine with nanoparticle delivery system
3) Anti-malarial drug development* Anti-hemozoin activity and traditional herb based drug
development

Professor

Kenji Hirayama

Senior Assistant Professor

Mihoko Kikuchi
Assistant Professor

Shusaku Mizukami
Assistant Professor

Dumre Shyam Prakash

07

cytokine family such as IL-27/WSX-1 during

diseases in Mbita Kenya, in cooperation with

2. Chagas disease1)Genetic susceptibility to different clinical forms ofchronic Chagas disease, namely, indeterminate,cardiac, and digestive forms

2)Host and parasite factors influencing on the reactivity
to the chemotherapy in the pediatric patients withchronic Chagas disease.
3)Exploring the essentiality of amastigote-stage specificmetabolic pathways in Trypanosoma cruzi utilizing
CPISPR/Cas9 system4)Anti-trypanosomal drug development
4. Dengue1)Identification and validation of early stage predictors
for Dengue severity.
* Plasma level of cell-free DNA, Mast cell derived factors,
Chymase, VEGF, Tryptase, ATⅢ, etc.
2)Genetic marker associated with sensitivity to Dengue
infection.
3)Mechanism of cellular immunity on protection against
Dengue virus.
Collaborations:
We strive to build a highly interactive and collaborative
network for sustainable research activities, and hence,
we have various well-arranged collaborative projects
with the following overseas and domestic facilities.
1. Malaria: Research Institute for Tropical Medicine(RITM), Philippines. Tokyo Medical and Dental University,
Toyama University
2. Chagas Disease: Center of Tropical Medicine, Sirani
Clinic, and Hospital Japones, UAGRM, Bolivia, IICS
University of Asuncion, Paraguay.
4. Dengue Fever: Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City,
and National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology(NIHE), Vietnam, Pasteur Paris, France, and National
Institutes of Health (NIH), USA.
1. Mosaddeque F et al., Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 62(5), 2018.
2. Helegbe GK et al., Malar J., 17(1):169, 2018.
3. Cherif MS et al., Am J Trop Med Hyg., 98(1):198-202,
2018.
4. Chérif MS et al., Eur J Pediatr., 176(6):791-796, 2017.
5. Mbanefo EC et al., Sci Rep., 7:45963, 2017.

We are a small, highly driven malariology
group focusing on many different aspects ofHost and VectoｒBiology

Depanment of
Pathology

environment for students working with us.

malaria. Established in 2011, we believe in a

We are interested in all aspects ofmulti-disciplinary approach to studying malaria,

malariology, and are currently actively engaged inas this enables a broad understanding of theresearch projects involving immunology,

subject, and therefore facilitates the development

genetics, genomics, evolutionary theory, ecology,

of novel solutions for fighting the disease.

epidemiology, and molecular cell biology.

Such a holistic approach to disease research

One particular ongoing project involves

can succeed only on the foundation of aanalysis of asymptomatic malaria carriage

solid and detailed understanding of its

inmulti-disciplinary constituents.

malaria researchers based in Japan andOur core belief is that all our research

Associate Professor

try to foster a freethinking and engaging research

Nigeria.

Collaborative

projects

withinternationally are of enormous importanceshould produce results that are of potential

to us, and make up the bulk of the work wepractical use for fighting the disease. We

are currently engaged in. At present wealso strive to engage young researchers inare actively working with researchers fromstudies on malaria, and hope to encourage

the USA, the Republic of Congo, Vietnam,

them to develop enthusiasm for useful scientificSriresearch. Research should be fun, and we

Nigeria, Brazil, the UK and Saudi Arabia.

Lanka,

Australia,

Tanzania,

Kenya,

Richard Culleton Leighton

1. Alvarenga DA et al., Sci Rep, 2018.
2. Moriyasu T et al., PLOS Negl Trop Dis, 2018.
3. Lu F et al., N Engl J Med, 2017.
4. Abkallo H et al., PLOS Pathog, 2017.
5. Brasil P et al., Lancet Glob Health, 2017.

Public andEnvironmental Health

Department of
Eco-epidemiology

Professor

Satoshi Kaneko

Assistant Professor

Kentaro Kato

Assistant Professor

Tomonori Hoshi

Our department is involved in various
branches of public health research. With
cutting edge IT and biotechnology, we intend:
to create more accurate assessment methods
in global health, to improve responses to the
public health needs on a local level, and toopen new directions in health sciences to the
future generations. Our activities include thefollowing:1)Development of Microsphere-Based SimultaneousMultiple Assay System and Surveillance
Systems for Multiple Infectious Diseases:
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are
spreading across sub-Saharan Africa, but
the current assessment on NTDs is still
unclear. At the same time, simple andcost-effective methods for monitoring
NTDs are needed. To fill in this gap, weare developing a simultaneous multiple
antibody detection assay system, utilizing
microsphere-based multiplex technology
and sampling system for the survey using
the satellite images to detect house structureswith the University of Tokyo.

2)Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS)
for the Epidemiological Research: In many
developing countries, CRVS systems arestill deficient, and this affects the statisticalanalysis of the population in a given region.
For this, the resident registration system
for the epidemiological research in a given
location called Health and Demographic
Surveillance System (HDSS) was developed.
HDSS follows residents, and their dynamics
over a long period. We are operating HDSS
programs to develop future CRVS system
integrating the cloud-based mother andchild registration system in Kenya and Laos.
3)Epidemiological studies for the child health in
Kenya: The Kwale district in Kenya is one of thepoorest areas with high prevalence of stunted
growth. We are conducting epidemiologicalstudies to reveal the factors that could
prevent stunted growth.
4)Research to clarify the molecular bases ofparasitic diseases. Besides field work, basic
research especially on schistosomiasis, amoebiasis
and leishmaniasis are being conducted in
our lab. We are dedicated to apply ourachievements from the lab to the field.
1. Ndemwa M et al., The PAMJ., 28(265), 2017.
2. Kato K et al., PloS one,12(7):e0181864, 2017.
3. Nzou SM et al., Parasital Int. 65:121-7, 2016.
4. Hoshi T et al., PloS one. 11(2):e0148636, 2016.
5. Tanigawa C et al., PLoS NTD. 9(8):e0004021, 2015.

08

Department of International HealthPublic andEnvironmental Health

Department ofInternational HealthProfessor

more detailed understanding and insight on
infectious diseases. We would like to pursue

has started its activities since 2008.
Our research was composed of four

the ways of analysis by various approaches

units; 1) research on infectious diseases insuch as molecular-evolutional technique,ecosystem, 2) research on the environment

molecular epidemiology, detection of trace

health, 3) research on biological evolution

DNA, genomics based on bioinformatics,

of microorganisms from the adaptation ormathematical model, and computer science.

fitness viewpoint and 4) research on the

Another pillar of our department is a

epidemiology from the historical viewpoint.

social responsibility. Now that even profit

The umbrella concept linking above fouroriented organizations are required to haveresearch units is to reconstruct infectious

its corporate social responsibility, no needdiseases "temporally" and "spatially" alike.

to say for academia or university. Out of

Infection is the biological phenomenon as an

the name of our department, it must be

interaction between hosts and microorganisms.

nothing but contribution to international

In other words, host behavior, social structure

health or people's health in resource-limited

as well as culture per se affect microorganisms insettings. What we think of important isfitness and adaptation whereas microorganism

to make solidarity in order to contributehas impact on its hosts. Based on thatto sustainable development. It is ourperception, our department aims to get

department's goal.

Taro Yamamoto
Associate Professor

Takayuki Wada

1. Koirala et al., J Physiol Anthropol., 37: 20, 2018.
2. Tu et al., Geriatr Gerontol Int., 2018 (In Press).
3. Yoshida et al., Infect Genet Evol., 62:122-129, 2018.
4. Ito H et al., Sci Rep., 7: 43377, 2017.
5. Takahashi S et al., PLoS One., 11:e0166817, 2016.

Our research interests include anything

Public andEnvironmental Health

Department of Vector
Ecology and Environment

withinimportant arthropods, particularly mosquitoes

group and the Anopheles funestus group in

Noboru Minakawa
Associate Professor

Hitoshi Kawada

theAnopheles gambiae

complexthat transmit pathogens such as Malaria

Kenya and Malawi. We are also investigating

parasites and dengue virus. We are also

their geographic distributions, and monitoring

interested

withtheir abundance in Kenya. This extensive

environmental variables and development of

in

their

relationships

field survey was designed to understandenvironmentally friendly vector control tools.

the effects of climate and develop a

1. Dengue virus vectors

climate base malaria prediction model.

As dengue vectors are extending their

Professor

physiological differences among the members

from ecology to molecular biology of medically

3. Vector control measuresgeographic distribution, the spread of the

The coverage of insecticide treateddisease is concerned. It has been suspected

bed nets (ITNs) has considerably increased

that the expansion of vector distribution isin Africa. We are investigating whether

due to environmental factors such as

local residents properly use and maintainclimate change. We are currently mapping

ITNs, and how long ITNs last. We are also

their geographical distributions in South

investigating the effects of bed nets on the

East Asia and Africa, and examining thespecies composition of vectors and theirrelationships with environmental factors.

behavior, and monitoring their insecticide

2. Malaria parasite vectors

resistance in East Africa.

We

are

examining

ecologicalandAssistant Professor

Toshihiko Sunahara
Assistant Professor

Kyoko Futami
Assistant Professor

Takashi Tsunoda
Assistant Professor

Ataru Tsuzuki
Assistant Professor

Hu Jinping
Technologist

Ikumi Fritz

09

1. Kawada, Ann Community Med Pract, 3 (1), 1019, 2017.
2. Kawada, Acta Hortic, 1169, 59-72, 2017.
3. Komagata et al., J. Med. Entomol., 54 (6), 1519-1524, 2017.
4. Oo SZM et al., Parasites & Vectors, 11 (16), 2017.
5. Ikeda et al., Scientiﬁc Reports, 7 (1) :2458, 2017.

Clinical Medicine
and Research

Department ofClinical Medicine

This is the only clinical department in NEKKEN,
which does clinical practices in Nagasaki University
Hospital. We conduct a wide range of multi-disciplinary
studies bridging our strength of clinical epidemiology
to laboratory-based microbiology and immunology
both in- and outside Japan. Our main researchinterests are respiratory infectious diseases, tropicalinfectious diseases, tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS.
Specific research topics are as described below:
1.Respiratory Infections Diseases
We apply our in-house multiplex-PCR assays toidentify 19 different viral and bacterial respiratory
pathogens and a novel nano-fluidic real-time PCR-based
assay to determine 50 pneumococcus serotypes fora multi-center adult pneumonia survey all overJapan and childhood acute respiratory infection
study in central Vietnam. We published several
papers demonstrating vaccine efficacy against
pneumococcal pneumonia and influenza. Since
2009, we have run a birth cohort study of about
2,000 pairs of mothers and new-born babies, whichfacilitates studies of host-gene factors associating
the severity of pediatric infectious diseases.

Professor

Koya Ariyoshi
Associate Professor

Konosuke Morimoto
Associate Professor

Motoi Suzuki

2.Tuberculosis
For better-diagnosis of latent MTB infection andtuberculosis, we are analyzing cellular immune responses
to various TB antigens using an intra-cellular cytokine
staining assay to evaluate a range of cytokines profile invarious stages of TB infection and their contact cases.
Our goal is to clarify TB-specific cellular immune responses
characteristic to a different clinical stage of TB infection.
We also investigated pathogens causing bacterial
pneumonia and its impact on the survival prognosis of TB
patients admitted to the National Infectious Diseases
Hospital (San Lazaro Hospital) in the Philippines.
3.Fever management in the tropics
We are conducting undiagnosed febrile illness
study in the Department of Infectious Diseases, Bac
Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam and the National
Infectious Disease Hospital (San Lazaro Hospital),
the Philippines, by applying diagnostic tests for
leptospirosis and various richettial diseases. We also
coordinate a bed-side clinical training in tropical
medicine.
4.HIV/AIDS Studies
In collaboration with National Institute of Health,Thailand, Bac Mai Hospital, Vietnam, Philippine General
Hospital, and Nagoya Medical Center, we haveinvestigated the pattern of opportunistic infections
among HIV/AIDS patients and disclosed different
clinical pictures in different geographical settings.

Assistant Professor

Yoshiro Yamashita

1. Saito et al., Clin Infect Dis, 67：897-904, 2018.
2. Kakiuchi et al., J Clin Microbiol, 56(5): e01874-17, 2018.
3. Sando et al., Emerg Infect Dis, 24(9):1633-1641, 2018.
4. Miyahara et al., Sci Rep., 7: 45481, 2017.
5. Suzuki et al., Lancet Infect Dis., 17(3):313-321, 2017.

Bed-side clinical training in San Lazaro HospitalThis is a newly established department inresponse to the Global Strategy on public health,Clinical Medicine
and Research

Department of Clinical
Product Development

innovation and intellectual property (resolution

public health needs to address the issues ofinequity in health.
4. Filling the gap of health knowledge

WHA61.21). The resolution calls for the enhancementof health-needs driven research and development
to address diseases that disproportionately
affect developing countries. The establishmentof this department was supported by the Departmentof Academic and Research Promotion, Ministryof Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology (MEXT), Japan. MEXT continues tosupport the department until its full development.

The activities:
1. Training

1)Two- week course on Product Research andDevelopment for public health needs;
2)Three-day course on Bioethics3)Responsible research
2. Research
1)Identification and further development of
Herbal Medicine and novel small compounds

The department focuses on:

for Breast cancer, Cholangiocarcinoma and

1. Building capacity of individuals for innovation
2. Strengthening capability of the local research
institutions

inprovidingenvironment,

includinganenabling

infrastructureforproduct R&D

Juntra Laothavorn
Associate Professor

Nguyen Tien Huy
Assistant Professor

Chisato Narahara

knowledge sharing and exchange, and for
R&D

technology

clinical trials.
3)Host pharmacogenomics and malaria virulence.
4) Revolution of P.falciparum K13 in Thailand.
3. Network

3. Strengthening research institutes network forProfessor

Malaria2)Validating the Enhance Informed Consent forin health producttransfer

activities.

Theemphasis will be on developing products for1)Coordinationof

Product

ResearchandDevelopment (PRD) Network
2)Coordinationofresearch

ethicsglobalnetwork: Strategic Initiative for Developing
Capacity in Ethical Review
1. Saeheng T et al., Eur J Clin Pharmacol., 2018.
2. Juntra K et al.,BMC Medical Ethics.,2018.
3. Na-Bangchang K et al., Evid Based Complement Alternat
Med., 2017.
4. Koonrungsesomboon N et al., Eur J Clin Pharmacol., 2017.
5. Koonrungsesomboon N et al., Phytomedicine, 2016.

10

Clinical Medicine
and Research

Department of Pediatric
Infectious Diseases

Environmental epidemiology:
health impacts of cliamte change

Clinical Epidemiological Studies of Pediatric
Infectious Disease in Nha Trang, Vietnam

Our research interests extend over a range ofissues in environmental epidemiology. The current
research topics, which we work in collaboration withboth the international and Japanese colleagues,
focus mainly on the health impacts of atmosphericenvironmental changes including climate variability,
global climate change and transboundary and local
air pollution in high-, middle- and low-income
countries. Ongoing projects include:

The Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
conducts research on a wide range of infectious
diseases with special attention on severe pediatricinfectious diseases including pneumonia, diarrhea,
and dengue which are the major causes of under 5mortality.

1. Short-term association between ambient temperature(heat, heat extremes and cold) and mortality inJapan and other parts of the world.
2. Effects of ocean-atmosphere interaction phenomenon
and local weather on vector-born, water-born andother infectious diseases in tropical andsub-tropical settings.
3. Development of malaria early warning system inSouthern Africa
4. Health effects of local and transboundar y air
pollution in Japan and in the East and Southeast Asia.
5. Respiratory health effects of the different chemicalcomposition of airborne particulate matter andthe sources.

Professor

Masahiro Hashizume
Professor

Lay Myint Yoshida
Assistant Professor

Michiko Toizumi
Assistant Professor

Noriko Kitamura
Assistant Professor

Chihiro Iwasaki
Assistant Professor

Mizuki Takegata
Assistant Professor

Keisuke Yoshihara

1. Cohort studies on Pediatric Infectious Diseases inVietnam: We receive funding from the Japan
Initiative for Global Research Network on
Infectious Diseases (JGRID), Japan Agency for
Medical Research and Development (AMED) to
conduct a large population based cohort study on
Pediatric Infectious Diseases in Nha Trang, central
Vietnam since 2006.
2. Pediatric ARI sur veillance: A population based
hospitalized Pediatric ARI surveillance at Khanh
Hoa General Hospital, Nha-Trang, Vietnam wasestablished to determine incidence, etiology andrisk factors for pediatric ARI/pneumonia since2007. We also investigate the emergence of new
viruses and its molecular and clinical importance.
In addition, we also investigate the impact or
potential of various vaccine introduction on
pneumonia and dengue in a population level.
3. Birth cohort study: We are also conducting a birthcohort study on 2000 new born babies in Nha
Trang, Vietnam since 2009. This study was
conducted to study congenital infection and hostgenetic
factorsonphysical-neurologicaldevelopment of the child and development ofSPID.
4. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) reduced
dosing trial: We received a multimillion dollar grantfrom Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to
conduct a PCV reduce dosing trial in Vietnam. We
believe that the study outcome will change global
PCV vaccination strategy to improve theavailability of PCV and other vaccines indeveloping countries.
5. Dengue intra-family transmission in the community:
In collaboration with London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine, we are conduction adengue intra-family transmission study in thecommunity in Nha Trang. We identify dengue
index cases by screening fever cases and followed
up their family members for dengue transmission.
We also conduct community IgG/M dengue survey
in the community to determine yearly dengue
infection in the community. These data will be
used for future intervention studies to control
dengue in the community.

Immunization with Pneumococcal
Conjugate Vaccine

1. Chung et al., Environ Health Perspect., 126(5):057002, 2018.
2. Matsushita et al., PLoS Negl Trop Dis., 12(4): e0006331, 2018.
3. Kim et al., Environ Health Perspect, 126(3):037002, 2018.
4. Kim et al., Environ Health Perspect, 125(7):077005, 2017.
5. Gasparrini et al., The Lancet, 386(9991):369‒375, 2015.

11

At Pasteur Institute Nha Trang

1. Do et al., Jap. J. Infect. Dis., 70(6):621-627, 2017.
2. Shi et al., Lancet, 390(10098):946-958, 2017.
3. Yoshihara et al., Sci. Rep., 16;6:27856, 2016.
4. Flasche et al., Vaccine, 32(51):6963-6970, 2014.
5. Toizumi et al., Pediatrics, 134(2):e519-26, 2014

Center for Infectious Disease
Research in Asia and Africa

Kenya Research
StationChief Representative, Professor

Satoshi Kaneko
Assistant Professor

Mohammad Shah
Coordinator

Rie Takeuchi

Nagasaki University Institute of Tropicaldiagnostics, and the establishment of an alert

Medicine and Kenya Medical Research Institutesystem for the outbreak of Yellow Fever and Rift

(NUITM-KEMRI) Project was launched by signing

Valley Fever were achieved and completed in

the Memorandum of Understanding between

2017.

the President of NUITM, and the Director ofsurveillance

KEMRI in 2005. The objective of the project was(NTDs) is now on the 3rd phase of the project.

to enhance research and to develop capacity

Additionally, research activities are fundedbuilding in the tropical medicine at the field level.

by

In January 2006, Kenya Research Station wascompanies, and the Grand Challenge Canada

established to manage the project. Biosafetythat supports the development of mother andLevel 2 and 3 laboratories, and insectary forchild registration system.

AMED-funded

the

on

JSPS

project

neglected(KAKEN),for

serologicaltropicalthediseases

pharmaceuticalmosquitos were installed in the station. Research

Furthermore, we began a JICA Grass-root

field sites were also established in Mbita near

project focusing on community development

the Lake Victoria, and in Kwale on the coast sideand school health in Mbita since 2009, as meansof Kenya. Health and Demographic Surveillance

for the feedback to the communities.

System (HDSS) has registered the population of

In terms of education and training, theabout 120,000 people in the field, as well as

station is accepting Master’s and PhD students

vital events like birth, death and migration infrom the Graduate School of Tropical Medicine

two

Mosquitoand Global Health, and the Graduate School ofSurveillance System (MSS) has been functional

Biomedical Sciences at Nagasaki University. The

for research on malarial mosquitos in Mbita.

station is also providing research opportunities

researchareas.

Additionally,

Regarding the research activities based at
the station: Basic research teams are organized

for

young

researchers,

andstudents

fromKenyan institutions.

according to the external research grants orfunds. Until now, the SATREPS Project for rapid
1. Shah M, et al., Jpn J Infect Dis.,70:442-447, 2017.
2. Wandera EA, et al., Trop. med. Health., 45:9 DOI:
10.1186/s41182-017-0051-z, 2017.
3. Wandera EA, et al., Vaccine, 35, Issue 38:5217-5223, 2017.
4. Chadeka EA, et al., PLOS NTD., DOI: 10.1371/ journal.
pntd.0005872, September 1, 2017.

Center for Infectious Disease
Research in Asia and Africa

Vietnam Research
StationProfessor

Futoshi Hasebe

Since 2015, the project has been taken over tothe third phase under a grant from the newly
established Japan Agency for Medical Research andDevelopment and J-GRID Phase 3 is currently
underway. Starting with the priority issues of the
program, i.e., dengue fever, infectious diarrhea,
influenza, and drug-resistant bacteria, research also
covers severe childhood pneumonia, HIV/AIDS
and tuberculosis to contribute to prevention of
infectious diseases. As there was an outbreak of the
Zika virus infection during the first half of 2016,
mainly occurring in the southern part of Vietnam, incooperation with WHO the training for themeasurement of Zika virus-specific neutralizing
antibodies was conducted in the National Instituteof Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi and in the
Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City to differentiate
from dengue virus infection.
In October 2016 the first case of microcephaly
due to the Zika virus was discovered in the central
highlands of Vietnam, and reported in to the Lancet
Infect Dis. Furthermore, a lecture on infectious
diseases aimed at Japanese residents of Hanoi wasgiven and various other outreach activities wereconducted as in other years. In the year 2017, a
lecture for Japanese residents of Hanoi was held
under the theme of “Knowing and communicating =personal protection,” to which Dr. Makoto Ohnishi

and Dr. Masayuki Saijo, bacteria and virus experts
from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases(NIID) were invited. It proved to be extremely wellreceived.
The Vietnam Research Station in Hanoi is currently
manned by 4 staffs from Nagasaki University (NU),
and the Nha Trang sub-station by a permanent staffof 4 people, in addition to which 35 staff from NU
and a further 55 researchers from other research
institutions participate in the activities of the Stationand conduct research. The Vietnam Research Station
has been conducting educational support as an
early exposure facility in the Program for Nurturing
Global Leaders in Tropical and Emerging Communicable
Diseases that was launched in 2015. Furthermore,
the Station is also utilized as an on-the-job-training
facility for other researchers not just from NU. In
2017 the Station was visited by 6 undergraduate
university students, 4 graduate students, 4 highschool students and 4 administrative staffs from
NU, through which a wide diversity of humanresource fostering activities were conducted.

Assistant Professor

Takashi Tsunoda

Zika fever survey in Dak Lak province, Vietnam.

Assistant Professor

Taichiro Takemura

1. Ngwe Tun MM, et al., Jpn J Infect Dis., Jul 24;70(4) :357-361, 2017.
2. Moi ML, et al., The Lancet Infect Dis., Aug 17(8):805-806, 2017.
3. Nguyen HLK et al., Trans R Soc Trop Med & Hyg., Mar
1;111(3):137-139, 2017.
4. Obana S et al., J Vet Med Sci., Jan 20;79(1):76-81, 2017.
5. Okada K et al., Sci Rep., Jan 26;8(1):1631, 2018.
NIHE-NU scientific symposium in Ninh Binh province, Vietnam.

12

In April 2014, the Museum of Tropical Medicine

information on tropical diseases, parasites, bacteria,

moved to the Atomic Bomb Disease Institutevirus, insects (vectors), specimen of dangerous

Building No. 2, and expanded the exhibition area.

animals, audio-visual materials and documents. The

Associated Facility

The exhibition is divide into categories of ‘Prologue’,audio-visual‘Parasitology’, ‘Bacteriology’, ‘Virology.’ It provides

scientific movies with 80-inch screen. There are

Tropical Medicine
Museuminformation on Tropical Infectious Diseases by using

more than thousands of data/resource collections.

80 panels, microscopic images, movies, educational

2.IT infrastructure maintenance: Network tools andmodels and specimens. Although main visitors areservers are updated with technological innovation

Japanese, quite a few people visit from overseas.

and maintaining its security. The renewal of IT

For these foreigners English translated panels are

infrastructure in 2018 strengthened VPN and data

installed in i-Pads and lend them when it isbackup system. It provides safe and secure it

requested. In addition to the contents on tropicalenvironment to researchers work at NEKKEN andinfectious

thediseases,acornerexpoundingonoverseas

cornerdemonstrates

researchstationsininteresting

Kenya

and

Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) laboratory contributes toVietnam.

advocating on the needs, safety and security.

3.Research: Prof. Okumura conducts field research

The section of Museum of Tropical Medicine

in Lao PDR and Republic of Guinea. She collects

mainly performs the following 3 functions.

epidemiological data on infectious diseases, health

1.Function as a museum and resource center on

seeking behavior, nutrition etc. in order to identify

Tropical Medicine: There are sections providing

factors affect child health.

Professor

Junko Okumura

Technologist

Kazuo Araki
1. Delamou et al., The Lancet GH., 5 (4): e448-e457, 2017.
2. Camara et al., Trans. Roy. Soci. of Trop Med & Hyg.,
111: 22-29, 2017.
3. Delamou et al., BMJ Global Health, 2:e000202, Doi:
10.1136/bmjgh-2016-000202, 2017.
4. Delamou et al., African J. of Repro Heal., 21 (1): 104-113, 2017.
5. Camara et al., Public Health Action, 7 (2): 161-167, 2017.

Associated Facility

Central ResearchLaboratory

Head and Professor

Shinjiro Hamano

Senior Assistant Professor

Mihoko Kikuchi

Assistant Professor

Miako Sakaguchi

The aim of Central Laboratory is tooperate and efficiently manage common
equipment and to support general laboratory
activities in the institute. In addition, thislaboratory also supports research activities
conducted in the institute by extramuralinvestigators.
○Molecular & Cellular Biology Unit
Molecular & Cellular Biology Unit is
responsible to maintain and operate following
equipment located in Central Laboratory;
16- and 48-capillary sequencers, GS juniorgenome sequencer and mass spectrometry-based
genotyping system for genome analysis;
Flow Cytometer for cell function analysis;
fluorescence-luminescence imager forvisualization analysis; and Luminex bead-arraysystem and fluorescence-luminescencemultilabel counter for multipurpose analysis.
In addition, this unit is also responsible tomaintain equipment/facilities to support
general laboratory activities; such as purewater supply, ultracentrifuge, lyophilizer,
Speed-Vac, French press, Bioruptor, sample
storage in liquid nitrogen, autoclave, darkroom and cold room.
○Light Microscope Unit
Light Microscope Unit provides optical

13

instruments to perform basic, translational,
and clinical research on the imaging
features of infectious disease. We operate
Nikon Infectious Disease Imaging Core
laboratory established in April 2015. The
laboratory has equipped laser scanningconfocal/fluorescence microscope (NIKON),
Imaging Flow Cytometer (MERCK), laser
scanning confocal/superresolution microscope( Z E I S S), a n d a V i r t u a l S l i d e S c a n n e r(Nanozoomer 2.0-RS, Hamamatsu Photonics).
○Electron Microscope Unit
Electron Microscope Unit supports
ultrastructural characterization of microbial
pathogens and the structural change ofthe pathogen-infected cells. This unit
offers high quality imaging services bystate-of-art techniques such as conventional
and immuno-electron microscopy and 3D
tomography, and also provides training on
sample preparation and equipment usage.
This unit is responsible for transmission
and scanning electron microscopes (JEOL),
high-pressure freezer (LEICA), ultra-microtomes(LEICA and REICHERT), vacuum coater,hydrophilic treatment device, and osmium
plasma coater in addition to generallaboratory facilities for a wide range
application of electron microscopy.

In 2015, NEKKEN Bio-Resource Center

pathogenic

protozoa

inJapan,

and(NBRC) was established to take charge of

disclosure of them on the web-based

National(NBRP)

database, (2) supply of protozoan strains

Associated Facility

mission in Institute of Tropical Medicine

from NBRC, (3) acceptance of protozoan

NEKKEN Bio-Resource
Center(NEKKEN). NBRP constructs the frameworkstrains to NBRC, (4) preservation andfor systematic collection, preservation,

maintenance of these strains, (5) supply ofand distribution of bio-resources with aprotozoan

focus on those that required strategic

education in academic organizations suchdevelopment by the National Government.

as

To promote life sciences it is importantcollection, preservation, and provision offorbio-resources, NBRC also implements the

BioResource

researchers

bio-resources

Project Representative, Professor

Osamu Kaneko

Service Manager, Assistant Professor

Makoto Kazama

toProject

sharenecessary

theforvariouspursuing

specimens

medicaldevelopment

school.

of

for
To

practice
facilitate

relatedofthetechnologies.

researches and developments. NEKKENApproximately 800 strains of pathogenic

has participated to NBRP services since

protozoa are preserved in NBRC, and2002 when it was initiated by the Ministry

approximately half of them are available toof Education, Culture, Sports, Science andsupply. NBRC has provided 807 protozoan

Technology

beenstrains until last year. Please visit ourmaintained by Japan Agency for Medical

website. Your cooperation and support to

Research(MEXT),

andhas(AMED)

the project would be highly appreciated.

from 2015. We have been serving as

Pathogenic protozoan resources, which

Division“Pathogenic

can be supplied by NBRC, are listed in theoffollowing websites.

Eukaryotic

andofDevelopment

Protozoa

inMicroorganisms

a

Core

Facility Upgrading Program” under Medical
Mycology Research Center (MMRC), Chiba

http://www.tm.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/nbrc/

University. NBRC supports the researchE-mail:protozoa@tm.nagasaki-u.ac.jp

and education of pathogenic protozoa by
the following services; (1) information
gathering about owners and strains of

Associated Facility

NTD Innovation
CenterCenter Directer, Professor

Satoshi Kaneko

The Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are aeliminate or eradicate NTDs. Another drawback isgroup of parasitic, viral and bacterial infectious

Japan-lead research results and interventions werediseases that prevail in the tropical and poverty-stricken

not globally communicated or utilized. This is an area

areas. They affect more than one billion people

NEKKEN should step in by globally disseminating theworldwide, resulting in prolonged poverty and economic

activity results, and seek the avenue to translate thehardship at both individual and geographical unit levels.

research results to effective real-life application.

RyutaroHashimoto,thenJapanesePrime

To rectify this situation, NEKKEN has established

Minister, kicked off the global parasite strategy toan in-house section “Neglected Tropical Diseases

combat NTDs in 1998, so-called Hashimoto Initiative,

Innovation Center (NTDi Center)” in 2016, mandating

at the Birmingham G8 Summit held in the UK. The

to establish industry-academia-government partnership

Initiative created the global momentum including

to accelerate drug development and to create thevarious milestones; such as the NTD Roadmap in 2012,global and domestic NTD network for effective

the International Public-Private Partnership, and thesharing of information on NTD research and activities.

London Declaration for the mission to eradicate,

The NTDi Center carries out the strategic

eliminate and control 10 NTDs by 2020. Also, in May

supports and seminars for researchers on research

2013, the World Health Assembly resolved theethics, drug development and medical economics toresolution WHA 66.12, expanding the NTD definition toacquire17 illnesses, which worked as another driver for active,

activities. Furthermore, the center is establishing a

global deployment of the initiative. 20 diseases are

Japanesecurrently classified under NTDs, as of October 2018.

international NTD organizations.

more
NTD

grantstonetwork

strengthen
to

link

researchdomesticandSince the Hashimoto Initiative rolled out, Japan
has been leading the G7 by supporting the coreprograms such as the Hashimoto Initiative Parasite
Inter vention Project and Pacific Programme to
Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (PacELF). It is,however, not sufficient. As the top tropicalinfectious disease research organization in Japan,
NEKKEN has the mission to take the leadership role
in research and drug development to effectively

Aug.2018 Diploma Course

14

(Introduction)

East Japan Great Earthquake, West Africa in

In 2016, the Office of Coordination for2014 and Nepal 2015. These activities make

Humanitarian Affairs was set up in our

NEKKEN one of the leading organizations

Associated Facility

institute. Prof. Taro Yamamoto, who alsoin Japan in terms of disaster relief activities.

Oﬃce of Coordinationfor Humanitarian Aﬀairs

heads the Department of International

Further, the infectious diseases teamHealth, was nominated as the first chief offor Japanese Disaster Relief was decided

this section. One year has passed since its

in a cabinet meeting in October, 2015

inception during which time we have dispatchedbased upon the fact that Ebola broke out in

missions to natural disaster affected areas

West Africa in 2014 and there was an

and yellow fever epidemic areas.

international call for cooperation to help
deal with it. NEKKEN is expected to serve（Aims）
The aims of this office are to provide
support to both natural and manmade
disaster areas. In order to undertake thesemissions, this office shall develop morehuman

resources,doresearch,andas one of the main stakeholders in this field
and was asked to participate on that team.
Because of all these events, setting up
the Office of Coordination for Humanitarian
Affairs was proposed.

become the center of an international
humanitarian network.
Section Chief, Professor

Taro Yamamoto（Organization）
１.Office of Coordination for Humanitarian
Affairs was set up in NEKKEN
２.Appoint one section chief (professor)（Past, Present and Future）
NEKKEN has dispatched missions to
disaster afflicted areas such as Haiti in
2010, Tohoku region in 2011 just after theIt was 16 June 1967 when the clinicaldepartment of the Institute of Tropical Medicine

The University Hospital
Infectious Disease Ward

Professor

Koya Ariyoshi
Associate Professor

Konosuke Morimoto
Senior Assistant Professor

Hirotomo Yamanashi
Assistant Professor

Kensuke Takahashi
Assistant Professor

Mai Izumida
Visiting Lecturer

Akitsugu Furumoto

15

clinic is open twice a week where we also run
a travel clinic for international travelers.

(NEKKEN) was established in the Nagasaki

For training and education, we provide a

University Hospital. Currently the department

number of lectures on infectious diseases toof clinical medicine has been running a clinic

undergraduate

and

the

training programs for resident physicians. We

Department of Infectious Diseases locallyorganize a clinical case conference of tropicalknown as “NEKKEN-NAIKA”. Our ward has 16

infectious diseases as a part of Master ofbeds with 8 negative pressure rooms, of which two

Tropical Medicine course, School of Tropical

can accommodate patients with BSL4 pathogens.

Medicine

We are specialized in infectious diseases; weresident doctors are regularly dispatched fortreat patients with systemic infectious diseases,

a long-term to abroad, San Lazao Hospital,

providingin-patients

care

in

and

students

Globaland

Health.

bed-side

Staff

and

including tropical infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS,

the Philippines and the infectious diseasetuberculosis, pneumonia, and other febrile cases.

ward

We receive approximately 500 consultation

accumulate our knowledge and experiencecases a year from other wards. Outpatientwith clinical tropical medicine.

in

Bac

Mai

Hospital,

Vietnamto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
and knowledge relevant to practicing medicine, implementing disease control programs andconducting medical research in tropical and developing countries. The course began in 1978 andsince 2017, it opens to the researchers who pursue technology for global health. Over 15 participants
are accepted to attend the course in each year. As of the 41th course in 2018, 543 participants intotal (including 199 medical doctors, and 344 co-medical such as nurses, community health nurses,
midwives, pharmacists) from all over Japan have completed the course.
The course is run by the steering committee, which consists of members from both inside andoutside the Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN).
During thirteen weeks (April to June), the full-time staff members of NEKKEN and a substantial
number of visiting professors and lecturers provide lectures, laboratory practicals and field work, inthe 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 successfully completed the course are awarded
the Diploma in Tropical Medicine.

Admission ceremony in 2018

Publications
Our official publications are as follows;
1．Bulletin of Nagasaki University Institute of Tropical
Medicine (in Japanese, yearly since 1964, PDF
files are available at our web page.)
2．Japanese Brochure (in Japanese yearly since1977, PDF files are available at our web page.)
3．English

Brochure:

INSTITUTE

OF

TROPICALMEDICINE NAGASAKI UNIVERSITY (this copy.
Yearly since 1977, PDF files are available at our
web page.)
4．Report of Nation-wide Cooperative Research

1

2

3

4

Projects (Information of research activities andachievements
researchascenteranation-wilefortropicalcooperative
medicineiscompiled.)

16

for Hotarujaya

for Mogi

Main bus route
Electric Tramway

Suwa-jinja-mae
Suwa-jinja
ShrineCivic Hall

JR Kyushu

Sofukujiiriguchi- kaidoKo-mae-o- bashi
Chu

Institute of Tropical
Medicine
University Hospital
School of
Dentistry

School ofMedicine
Urakami-tenshudomae
for Akasako

OhashiIgakubu-mae
HamaguchiMatsuyama- machi
machi
Peace Park

AtomicBomb
MuseumSofukujiTempleShinchi
Chinatown
Ohato

Nagasakiekimae

Urakamiekimae

Ishibashi

NagasakiUrakamiHow to get the Institute○From JR Nagasaki Station▶Electric Tramway 〝Nagasaki Station”(bound for 〝Akasako”) → 〝Atomic Bomb Museum”→ about 10-minute walk
▶Nagasaki 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”) → 〝Atomic Bomb Museum”→ about 10-minute walk
○From Nagasaki Airport▶Kenei Bus 〝Nagasaki Airport No.4”Bus Stop (For 〝Nagasaki Sta”.(via 〝Showa-machi”/ via 〝Showa-machi・Sumiyoshi”))→ 〝Hamaguchi-machi”→ about 10-minute walkNagasaki University

Institute of Tropical Medicine
LocationURL

1-12-4 Sakamoto Nagasaki 852-8523
http://www.tm.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/nekken/