2021

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, we strive for excellence in the following areas:
1. Spear-head research in tropical medicine and international health
2. Global contributions through disease control and health promotionin the tropics by applying the fruits of our research
3. Cultivation of researchers and specialists in the above fields

Organizational Chart

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)

Nagasaki University
Hospital
Steering
Cmte ITM

Dean

Department of
Pathology

Steering Cmte
RCTD

Department of Clinical Medicine

Public and Environmental Health
Department of
Eco-epidemiology

Department of Global Health
Development Policy Sciences

Department ofInternational Health andMedical Anthropology

Department of Vector
Ecology and Environment

Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Department of Respiratory Infections

Faculty
Meeting

Management
Meeting

Clinical Product Development

Associated Facilities
Center for Infectious Disease Research in Asia and Africa

Department of
Host-Defense Biochemistry

Department of Preventive
Medicine and AIDS Research

Department of
Infections Diseases

Clinical Medicine and Research

Host and Vector Biology
Department of
lmmunogenetics

Internal
Medicine

Kenya Research Station

Vietnam Research Station

Tropical Medicine Museum
Tropical Medicine Research
Department Division

Central Research LaboratoryOﬃce for Training and Education
NEKKEN BioResource Center

NEKKENNTD Innovation CenterOﬃce of Coordination for Humanitarian Aﬀairs

Shionogi Global Infectious Diseases

Department of Cellular
Architecture Studies

Department of Molecular
Infection Dynamics

Department of
Immune Regulation

Department of Exploratory
Research for Drug Discovery

Steering Committee for the Institute of Tropical Medicine (Committee Member outside the university)
Shigeyuki Kano（National Center for Global Health and Medicine），Yasuhiko Suzuki (Hokkaido University )，Shinichiro Kawazu（Obihiro University of Abriculture and Veterinary Medicine）

01

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
1942.3on Tropical 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 designated NEKKEN as a WHO
Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Tropical Viral Diseases. The current
organization of the institute involves five major research fields ( 21 departments ), twofacilities, and one clinical unit at University hospital.
Many developing countries are located in the tropics, and are affected by a diverse
group of tropical diseases, and emerging infectious diseases. As a consequence theremarkable advances made in the field of international transportation and communicationin recent years, the industrialized countries of the temperate zones are also threatened by

1946.4
1949.5

Based on this paradigm, NEKKEN aims to overcome tropical and emerging infectious
institutions, and to strive for excellence in the following areas:

1967.6
1967.6

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

1978.4

Diploma course, Kensyu-katei

1983.4

JICA Researcher Group-Course

1989.5

Certified as Joint Usage ResearchCenter1993.11

WHO Collaboration Center

1995.4

Certified as Center of Excellence, COE

1997.4Tropical Infection Research Center

2. International contribution through disease control and health promotion in the tropics

COE program 21st Century Global
Strategy against Tropical & Emerging

3. Cultivation of researchers and specialists in the above fields

Infection

This pamphlet offers a brief, but hopefully intelligible explanation of our organizationand its activities. As you will see, our research activities address major tropical diseases
such as malaria, schistosomiasis, dengue fever, and yellow fever, and emerging and2006.4Tropical Medicine Masterʼs Course

2008.4

Museum and Asia / Africa Facilities

2008.6re-emerging infections such as HIV/AIDS, SARS, ebola and tuberculosis. We conduct basic
also investigate entomology, ecology and social sciences. NEKKEN is also contributing to theeducation of students in PhD, and Masters as part of the Graduate School of Biomedical
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.
You will also find information about our research facilities in Kenya and Vietnam.
Hopefully you will be able to understand the intention of our research and education andKouichi Morita
Dean and Professor
NEKKEN
May, 2021

COE

programComprehensive

Global Strategy against Tropical &medical sciences, epidemiology and clinical research for disease prevention and control. We

will support us in the future.

Institute of Endemics, Nagasaki

Medicine, to University Hospital

2003.4

1. Spear-head research in tropical medicine and global healthInstitute of Endemics, N.M.C
University, under postwar scheme

the same pathogens and it is imperative that they are addressed from a global perspective.
diseases, and the various related health problems in the tropics, in cooperation with related

East Asia Institute of Endemics as
Nagasaki Medical College affiliate

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

Emerging Infection
2009.6

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

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

2017.112019.475th anniversary ceremony
Shionogi Global Infectious Diseases
Division

02

Joint Usage / Research Center on Tropical Disease
Our institute is the one and only public sector institutesupported by MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture,

carries out joint research rooted in the local places where
the infectious diseases are prevalent.

Sports, Science and Technology, Japan) that aims to
conduct research on tropical diseases, and is identified as
the Joint Usage / Research Center on Tropical Disease.

2. Outline of the Centerʼs Activities

The Joint Usage / Research Center on Tropical

Medicine supports collaborative research, which is either
1. The Goal of the Center

basic

Infectious diseases are caused by the collapse of

epidemiological, clinical or public health framework. It

symbiosis with other creatures, which cannot be avoided if

also supports research meetings, which promote andorappliedresearch

based

upon

an

we, human beings, live in nature. Although the ultimate aim

facilitate research into infectious diseases throughof this center is to eradicate infectious diseases, it isexchanging information or technology where necessary.

needed rather to establish reciprocal relationships with

The Center serves as a bio-resource center to deliver

other creatures than to eliminate them. Such establishment

such things as infectious agents, information. collectedof reciprocal relationships requires collective knowledge,

and stored here.

which can be achieved only by combining a broad aspectof disciplines.
Tropical infectious diseases have been spreading in
tropical areas, which is a reflection of the environment and3. Operational Organization of the Center

As for administration of this research center, the deanof the Institute of Tropical Medicine established thesocio-economic situation existing there. It is considered toSteering Committee for the Center, which is composed of

be a big challenge related to health. Emerging and re-emerging

11 members, out of whom more than half should be from

infectious diseases have been spreading globally withoutside the university concerned. The Steering Committee

tropical areas at the epicenter. Tropical areas are not onlyis responsible for the adoption of the applications, andthe battle field where we, human beings, fight against

monitoring and evaluation of the activities.

them, but also the experimental ground where we newly

In order to support the above mentioned activities acreate and develop our knowledge and technology in orderspecific administrative office supporting the Center is

to control infectious diseases.

allocated in the institute and a professor is designated toAgainst the backdrop of past international activities

be a section chief.

and research facilities for infectious diseases in Asia andAfrica, the Joint Usage / Research Center on Tropical
Disease, together with researchers from diverse fields,

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 enquiries on specialized matters

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

Send a delegate/delegates as
to address opinions from
communities

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

Steering Committee for the Joint Usage / Research Center on Tropical Disease（Committee Member outside the university）
Manabu Ato（National Institute of Infectious Diseases），
Shinichiro Kawazu（Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine），Satoshi Sasaki（The University of Tokyo），
Yukiko Higa (National Institute of Infectious Diseases), Sohkichi Matsumoto（Niigata University），
Chizuru Misago (Tsuda University), Takayuki Miyazawa（Kyoto University）

03

Accounting (FY2020)
owmentEndowment
ernal Fund）（External
299
140,299

Grant-in-Aid for
Scientiﬁc Research Others
30,500128,667Ad
Administrativecocost subsidy
62621,697

d Project
Commissionedd）（External Fund）
106,494

Revenue

30,500Commissioned
sioned Projectal Fund）（External
12,810Administrative
cost subsidy
subs
588,697

Expenditure

Nonome
Non-subsidy
incomeNa
ersityat Nagasaki
University
143,
143,044（thousand JPY）
Total
2,723,767

ssioned Research
Researrch
Commissioned
al Fund）（External
1,203,965

Grant-in-Aid for
Scientiﬁc Research
100,335
OthersEndowment
ndowment
External Fund）（External
1,192
31,192（thousand JPY）
Total
2,018,735

Non-subsid income
Non-subsidy
at Nagasak
Nagasaki University
142,608

Commissione
Commissioneded
Researchd）（External Fund）
888,368

Join
nt Research
Joint
（E
Fund
（External
Fund）349,099

Joint Research（External Fund）
224,222※Including carry-overExternal Fund (FY2020)

Numberof grants

Amount（in thousands of yen）
1,500,000

150

1,223,585
124

1,200,000
900,000

120
90

789,538

600,000

48
262,658

300,000
0

22

43,09960

39

97,78930,500

12

3

Joint Research with Commissioned Commissioned Endowments
Private Sectors
Research
Project

Facilities & Administrative
costs included

30

Others0

Total

Number of Staff （as of May 1 ,2021）
Professor

Associate
Professor

Senior AssistantProfessor

Assistant
Professor

Sub total

Others

Total

16

6

1

30

53

121

174

Grants-in-aid for Scientiﬁc Research （KAKENHI）（MEXT）（FY2020）

148,304

Amount（in thousands of yen）
150,00037

125,000

75,00025,000035
30

100,000

50,000

Numberof Grants
40

52,00016,12018,9802
ScientiﬁcResearch(A)（Overseas
AcademicResearch)

4,810
1

12,610
1

13

5,200
1

15,860

1

20
15

10

624

25

6,370
1

10,010
2

5,720
4

10
1

ScientiﬁcScientiﬁcScientiﬁc Scientiﬁc Encouragement Early-Career Early-Career Fostering Joint Research Grant-in-Aid Total
Research(B) Research（A） Research(B) Research(C) of Scientists
Scientists Scientists International Activity for Special
Research (B) Start-up Purposes(Overseas （General） (General) (General)(A)
AcademicResearch)

5004

Microbiology
and Parasitology

Department of
Virology

This Department has been conducting basic
and applied research on arthropod-borne viruses(arboviruses) such as Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV), dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV),
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), severe fever withthrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) and
COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2)
Molecular epidemiology of arboviruses
We isolate DENV, JEV, CHIKV, ZIKV and
SARS-CoV-2 in Asia and African regions andconduct molecular epidemiological analysis todetermine international and inter-continental
movement of these viruses. We also analyze
unique genome sequences that are relevant topathogenicity.
Research on vaccine development using
reverse genetics
We have developed DENV infectious clones
and identified viral determinants by modifying
various parts of the genes. We are currently
developing genetically engineered viruses ascandidates for live attenuated DENV vaccines byfinancial support of GHIT.
Research on the pathogenicity of arboviruses andevaluation of therapeutic compounds using animal

Kouichi Morita
Moi Meng Ling
Assistant Professor Takeshi Nabeshima
Assistant Professor Mya Myat Ngwe Tun
Professor and Head

Department ofBacteriology

Professor

Toshio Kodama
Associate Professor

Hirotaka Hiyoshi
Associate Professor

Hiroyuki Terashima

Development of rapid diagnostic assay for
infectious diseases
Various rapid diagnostics are being developed
for arboviruses using PCR, LAMP, LC/MS and
Immuno-chromatographic technologies for thedetection of viral genome, protein and specificantibodies.
Activities as a WHO Collaborating Center
The department is designated as a WHO
Collaborating Center for Reference and Researchon Tropical Viral Diseases since 1993 andcurrently our department has been re-designatedas a center for Tropical and Emerging Virus
Diseases. The center has been collaborating with
WHO in training WHO fellows from many
developing countries and has deployed experts as
WHO short-term consultants. From 2020 March,
the laboratory is working as WHO ReferenceCentre for COVID-19.

1. Le et al. (PHUJ,QIHFW 'LV 2020; 2: 26(7).
2. Wijesooriya et al. /DQFHW,QIHFW'LV 2020; 20(2): 168-169.
3. Bastola et al. /DQFHW,QIHFW'LV 2020; 20(3): 279-280.
4. Kyaw et al. $P-7URS0HG+\J 2019; 100: 643-646.
5. Yamane et al. 1DW0LFURELRO 2019; 4(7): 1096-1104.

Professor

Microbiology
and Parasitology

model.
We elucidate the mechanism of pathogenicity
and infectivity of arboviruses, such as DENV and
SFTSV by using a mouse model.

Our research focuses on the pathogenesis of entericbacterial pathogens, including =PIYPVWHYHOHLTVS`[PJ\Z=PIYPVJOVSLYHL and :HSTVULSSHLU[LYPJH spp. The emergenceand spread of multidrug - resistant bacteria are big
problems these days. It is predicted that drug-resistantbacterial infection will bring about 10 million annual deathsby 20 5 0. We b e l i eve t h at u n d e r s t a n d i n g d e t a i l e dmechanisms of bacterial pathogenicity gives us a clue tothe development of effective vaccines and establishmentof new treatment strategies without antibiotics. We will
promote our study with various approaches, such as
global epidemic surveillances,PU]P]V animal infection
models, and PU]P[YV molecular biological analyses, andmake maximum efforts to produce talented researchers
who can play on a global stage through study andexperience.
● 9SDUDKDHPRO\WLFXV Pathogenesis
We have worked on =WHYHOHLTVS`[PJ\Z for decades,and found that one set of Type III Secretion System(T3SS2) is necessary for induction of diarrhea in thepatients infected with this pathogen. We have also
identified and characterized effector proteins secreted
from T3SS2, and revealed regulatory mechanisms of
T3SS2-related genes. We recently demonstrated that an
exotoxin, thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH), is secreted
via T3SS2 in tandem with the Sec machinery, facilitates
the distinct virulence traits. However, detailed mechanismsof how this pathogen colonizes the host intestine andinduces diarrhea have remained unknown. We therefore
try to understand a comprehensive mechanism of=

WHYHOHLTVS`[PJ\Zinfection by generating a new animal
infection model, dissecting the expression mechanism ofT3SS2-related genes, determining biological activities ofT3SS2 effectors, analyzing the interaction of microbiota,
and other multidimensional approaches.
● Endemic Stains of 9LEULR spp.
We are planning to isolate =PIYPV spp. including =
WHYHOHLTVS`[PJ\Z and =JOVSLYHL from patients, seafoodand environmental samples in endemic areas to elucidate
the genetic characteristics and dynamics of epidemicstrains. We will also try to determine the factor(s) that
contributes to global dissemination and characterize itsrole in infection.
● 6DOPRQHOODPathogenesis
We are interested in :HSTVULSSH pathogenesis. A big
goal in this project is to understand how:LU[LYPJH spp.
cause systemic infection in human for developing more
effective vaccines and therapies without relying on
antibiotics. Type III Secretion System (T3SS) coded on:HSTVULSSH Pathogenicity Island 2 (SPI-2) is well known as
an essential virulence factor for establishing systemic
infection and resisting the host innate immune defense
system medicated by macrophage and neutrophil. To
uncover the mechanism how : L U [ L Y P J H spp. cause
systemic infection using T3SS, we have tried to dissect
the functions of the T3SS for systemic infection and its
effector proteins by various approaches, including PU]P]V
mouse infection models , P U] P [ Y V biological assays ,epidemic surveillance, and in silico genetic comparisonsamong different :LU[LYPJH serovars (i.e., Typhimurium,
Typhi, and Paratyphi A).

1. Yamazaki et al. 9LUXOHQFH2020; 11(1): 840-848.
2. Kashimoto et al. %0&0LFURELRO 2020; 20(1): 69.
3. Matsuda et al. 0LFURELRO,PPXQRO 2020; 64(3): 167-181.
4. Okumura et al. 0XFRVDO,PPXQRO 2020; 13(1): 75-85.
5. Matsuda et al. 1DW0LFURELRO 2019; 4(5): 781-788.

05

Microbiology
and Parasitology

Department of Emerging
Infectious Diseases

We a r e wo r k i n g o n t h e b a s i c a n d a p p l i e dresearch to develop the countermeasures againste m e rg i n g i n fe c t i o u s d i s e a s e s , e s p e c i a l l y v i r a lhemorrhagic fevers and COVID-19.
Research subjects:
Analyses of replication mechanisms of highly
pathogenic viruses
In infected cells, the viruses replicate using
va r i o us c e l l u l a r ma c h i n er y a n d re l e a s e a la rg e
number of progeny virions. Our interests are toclarify the molecular mechanisms of virus replication
in host cells. We are currently analy zing themolecular interactions between viral proteins andcellular factors in infected cells. Especially, we arefocusing on highly pathogenic viruses, such as Ebola
virus, Marburg virus, Lassa virus and SARS-CoV-2.
Development of novel antiviral strategies
To establish novel antiviral strategies against
viral hemorrhagic fevers and COVID -19, we are
identifying the cellular factors which have antiviral
activity and analyzing the molecular mechanisms of
their antiviral action. We are also doing
high-throughput screening of organic and chemicalcompound libraries for antiviral drug discover yagainst viral hemorrhagic fevers and COVID-19.
Development of detection methods for highly
pathogenic viruses
In case of outbreak of emerging infectious
diseases, rapid and accurate diagnoses are essential
to control infection and to prevent fur thertransmission. We have developed novel diagnostic
assays for emerging viral diseases.
Research studies on viral diseases in Gabon republic
The followings are aims of this project; 1) toinvestigate prevalence of known and unidentifiedv i ra l d i s e a s e s i n G a b o n t h ro u g h g e n e t i c a l a n dserological assays, 2) to determine characteristics
including genetic information and pathogenicity ofviruses which are regarded as public health concern
and t hose newl y identifie d in Gabon , and 3) todevelop rapid diagnostic methods for viral diseasesof public health concern and those newly identified.

Ebolavirus and Epstein-Barr virus both cause major
infectious diseases in humans, such as Ebolavirus disease
and Epstein-Barr virus-associated malignancies,
respectively. The long-term goal of our study is to provide
insights into the molecular mechanisms of theirpathogenesis, which shall lead to the development ofrational therapies and diagnosis for them.
● Characterization of molecular mechanisms of EBOV
entr y and virus par ticle formation: toward thedevelopment of therapeutics for EBOV disease
Ebolavirus (EBOV), a member of the family -PSV]PYPKHL,
is an enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA virusthat causes severe hemorrhagic fever with a high mortality
rate , known as EBOV d iseas e ( E V D), in hu m a ns a n dnonhuman primates. Currently, no specific therapeutics has
been approved for treatment and prevention of EVD.
B e c a u s e o f t h e l i ke l i h o o d o f f u t u re o u t b re a ks a n dgeneration of mutant viruses, the development of a variety
of EBOV therapeutics is urgent. Our goal is to elucidate themechanism underlying virus entry and virion formation
process with a focus on host membrane traffic dynamics
and viral envelopeʼs constituent phospholipids (Fig.1). We
are also developing the therapeutics that specifically target
the entry and virion formation process in multiple ways,
which should lead to the significant contribution forprevention of EBOV infection in the future.
● Characterization of molecular mechanism ofdevelopment of EBV-associated epithelium tumors
Epstein - Barr virus (EBV ), a ubiquitous human γ-herpesvirus, establishes a persistent latent infection in B
lymphocytes and epithelial cells in more than 90% of adults
worldwide. Although this virus contributes causally tolymphomas and epithelial malignancies such as Burkittʼsl y m p h o m a , g a s t r ic c a rci n o m a , a n d nasopha r y n g ea lcarcinoma, the molecular mechanism by which EBV cause
these tumors remains fully elucidated. To update theunderstanding of the mechanisms for development of
EBV-associated epithelial tumors, we are elucidating thephysiological significance of exosomes, one t ype of
extracellular vesicles, released from EBV-infected cells intumor development. Moreover, we try to identify host andviral factors that are specifically and abundantly
i n c o r p o r a t e d i n exo s o m e s , wh i c h s h a l l l e a d t o t h edevelopment of potential biomarkers for EBV-associatedtumors that contribute to the diagnosis of these tumors. An
outline of this project is shown in Fig.2.

Professor and HeadJiro Yasuda
Professor

Asuka Nanbo
Professor

Kentaro Yoshii
Associate Professor

Shuzo Urata

Associate Professor

Yohei Kurosaki
Assistant Professor

Haruka Abe

Assistant Professor

Yuri Ushijima
Assistant Professor

Yasuteru Sakurai
Assistant Professor

Wakako Furuyama
Assistant Professor

Misako Yajima
Assistant Professor

Rokusuke Yoshikawa
1. Ushijima et al. ,QW-,QIHFW'LV 2021; 105: 452-459.
2. Sakurai et al. %%5&2021; 545: 203-207.
3. Yoshikawa et al. 3/R617'V 2020; 14(11): e0008855.
4. Abe et al. -9LUDO+HSDW 2020; 27(11):1234-1242.
5. Zadeh et al. -*HQ9LURO 2020; 101(6): 573-586.

1. Nanbo, 0LFURRUJDQLVP2020; 8: 729.
2. Furuyama et al.3/R61HJO7URS'LV 2020; 14(9): e0008602.
3. Isono et al. $QWLYLU5HV 2020; 183: 104932.
4. Zhao et al. -9LURO2020; 94(22): e01298-20.
5. Kheir et al. &DQFHUV 2019; 11(6): E759.

06

Microbiology
and Parasitology

Department ofProtozoology

Malaria is responsible for a huge burden

fundamental aspects of the parasiteʼs lifeof death and disease in large areas of thecycle, such as the molecular interactions andtropical and sub -tropical world.

signaling mechanisms behind red blood cell

Unfortunately, those countries hardest hit by( R B C) i nva s i o n a n d t h e p h e n o m e n o n o f

the disease are often amongst the poorest.

cytoadherence of parasite -infected RBCs.

Despite continuing efforts, there is still no

We u tilize a variet y of malaria parasites

ef fective vaccine against the disease. In

including human- infecting 7SHZTVKP\T

order to design and implement ef fective

M H S J P W H Y \ T , t h e r o d e n t m a l a r i a p a r a s i tedisease intervention strategies, we believe

7SHZTVKP\T`VLSPP, and 7SHZTVKP\TRUV^SLZP a

t h a t one of t he key p r i o r i t i es in malaria

causative agent of zoonotic human malaria.

research should be the strengthening of ourTo expand a platform for basic and clinicalunderstanding of the basic biology of themalaria research, we are investigating theparasite. We are currently investigating somemolecular epidemiology of malaria parasites
in endemic countries, the biology of
7SHZTVKP\T]P]H _ hypnozoites, and theestablishment of a novel malaria model using
ungulate 7SHZTVKP\T. In addition, we are also
conducting research about the function andProfessor

Osamu Kaneko
Assistant Professor

Kazuhide Yahata

expression mechanism of trans-sialidase andFig.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).

the stage specific adaptation mechanisms of;Y`WHUVZTHJY\aP that cause Chagas disease.

Assistant Professor

Taeko Naruse

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

Microbiology
and Parasitology

Department of
Parasitology

Various kinds of parasites infect humans
for long periods of time without killing them,giving rise to tremendous afflictions, social
and/or economic loss. We would like to develop
deep insight into parasitic diseases and thesurrounding factors from various points ofview through both field and laboratory studies.
Our goal is to contribute to new knowledge
and to provide an enthusiastic environment for
t he t raining of t he fu t u re generatio n ofinvestigators.
We have b e en researching parasiticd i s e a s e s i n M b i t a a n d Kwa l e , Ke ny a , i n
cooperation with Kenya Medical ResearchInstitute (KEMRI) and Maseno University. In
2 0 21, w e s t a r t e d a n e w p r o j e c t o nschistosomiasis with the support from MEXT
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A). We
also tr y developing ideal monitoring anddiagnostic methods for schistosomiasis and

1. Hakimi et al. 3/R63DWKRJ 2020; 16: e1008917.
2. Subudhi et al. 1DW&RPPXQ 2020; 11: 2763.
3. Ishizaki et al. 3DUDVLWRO,QW 2020; 76: 102056.
4. Peng et al. P%LR 2020; 11: e02995-19.
5. Thawnashom et al. 3/R621( 2019; 14: e0226884.

leishmaniasis with the support from Global
Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT). Int he laborato r y, we maintain :JOPZ[VZVTHTHUZVUP, its intermediate host snail, )Y\NPH
THSH`P, )WHOHUNP and (LKLZHLN`W[P.
We s tud y hos t defense mechanisms
against 3LPZOTHUPHspp and ;Y`WHUVZVTHJY\aP,
and in t he pro cess , have e lucidate d t hefunction of the IL-12 cytokine family such as
IL-27/WSX-1 during infection. We have been
d eve l o p i n g l i ve a t t e n u a t e d va c c i n e s toleishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis by editing
genes using CRISPR-Cas9 system with thesuppor t from GHIT since 2015 and 2019,respectively. In addition, we developed animalmodels of intestinal amoebiasis together with
Prof. Houpt at University of Virginia, and are
d evo t i n g o u r s e l ve s to t h e s t u d y o n t h emolecular basis of pathogenicity of E. OPZ[VS`[PJH
and host defense mechanisms to it.

Professor

Shinjiro Hamano
Assistant Professor

Yoshinori Mitsui
Assistant Professor

Risa Nakamura
Technologist

Megumi Hamasaki

07

1. Tanaka et al. 3DUDVLWRO,QW 2021; doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102346
2. Mukendi JPK et al. 3DUDVLW9HFWRUV 2021; 14(1): 70.
3. Zhang et al. 1DW&RPPXQ 2020; 11(1): 3461.
4. Nakamura et al. L6FLHQFH 2020; 23(9): 101544.
5. Sassa et al. 3/R61HJO7URS'LV 2020; 14(8): e0008473.

Host and Vector Biology

Department of
lmmunogenetics

This department primarily focuses on thefundamental insights of the pathogenic genetic
factors of the host and the pathogens of tropicalinfectious diseases such as Dengue fever, malaria
and Chagas disease, through the application of
immunology and genetics. With the understanding of
the dynamic host-pathogen interactions, we arefurther concerned with the development of new
tools to fight against these diseases including novel
therapeutics (drugs) or vaccines.
We strive to build a highly interactive andcollaborative network for sustainable research
activities, and hence, we have various well-arranged
collaborative projects with the following overseas
and domestic facilities. 1) Research Institute forTropical Medicine (RITM), Philippines. 2) UAGRM,
Bolivia, 3) IICS University of Asuncion, Paraguay, 4)
Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, and National
Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE),
Vietnam, 5) Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria, 6)
Pasteur Paris, France, 7) London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine, UK, 8) National Institutes of
Health (NIH), USA, 9) Tokyo Medical and Dental
University, 10) Toyama University, 11) The National
Institute of Advanced Industrial Science andTechnology (AIST) 12) IS Global, Spain

Following research projects are going on.
1. Malaria
1) NGS analysis of host and malaria genome(KAKENHI)
2) Vaccine development (AMED)
3) Anti-malarial drug development (AMED, Toyama)
2. Chagas disease
1) Early bio-markers identification for chronic
Chagas disease, namely, indeterminate, cardiac,and digestive forms in Bolivia (KAKENHI)
2) Anti-trypanosomal drug development (Toyama,
Nagasaki)
3. Dengue1) Mechanism of cellular immunity on protection
against Dengue virus (J-GRID).

Professor

Kenji Hirayama

1. Adamu et al. 0DODU- 2020; 19(1): 439-439.
2. Mochizuki et al. %LRHQHUJHWLFV2020; 1861(11): 148283-148283.
3. Teklemichael et al. 0DODU- 2020; 19(1): 204-204.
4. Pare et al. (%LR0HGLFLQH 2020; 51: 102584-102584.
5. Vásquez et al. 3/R61HJO7URS'LV 2019; 13(9): e0007715.

Professor

Katsuyuki Yui

Lecturer

Mihoko Kikuchi

Host and Vector Biology

Department of HostDefense Biochemistry

Education and research
Aim of our department is to contributeto global health and welfare from basic
research. Main target of our research isenergy metabolism, which is essential fort he sur v i val , continue d g row t h andreproduction of living organisms. From thestandpoint of biological adaptation, we
h a ve b e e n s t u d y i n g o n t h e m o l e c u l a r
mechanism of energy transducing systems
such as mitochondrial and bacterial

respiratory chain and drug discovery anddevelopment targeting them.
Our research has been focusing on
human mitochondria, parasitic nematodes
such as (ZJHYPZZ\\T, parasitic protozoa(7SHZTVKP\TMHSJPWHY\T;Y`WHUVZVTHIY\JLP
;Y`WHUVZVTHJY\aP*Y`W[VZWVYPKP\T etc.). In
addition, by using research information
obtained from these studies, we are trying todevelop a new strategy to combat against
other pathogens including SARS-CoV-2.

Professor

Kiyoshi Kita

Bio-synthetic pathway of asucofuranone. (from Araki et al., PNAS, 2019)

1. Enkai et al. (XU-&OLQ0LFURELRO,QIHFW'LV 2021; in press.
2. Yamasaki et al. %LRFKLP%LRSK\V$FWD 2021; 1862(4): 148356.
3. Nara et al. 3/R621( 2021; 16(2): e0243855.
4. Sakurai et al. %LRFKHP%LRSK\V5HV&RPPXQ 2021; 545: 203-207.
5. Mochizuki et al. %LRFKLP%LRSK\V$FWD 2020; 1861 (11): 148283.

08

Host and Vector Biology

Department of Pathology
Nutrition and Infection Unit

Professor

Sharon Cox

Public andEnvironmental Health

Department of
Eco-epidemiology

Professor

Satoshi Kaneko
Assistant Professor

Kentaro Kato

Department of Pathology, Nutrition and
Infection (former Department of Pathology) wasestablished in 2019 by Professor S. Cox (NU
School of Tropical Medicine & Global Health(TMGH)) and is separate from the Department
of Global Health Development Policy Sciences.
We are interested in how nu t r i t i o nunderpins human health and may mediate
interactions between infections andnon-communicable diseases such as diabetes.
The research aims to provide an evidence baseto suppor t nutrition-based inter ventions toimprove health outcomes and includes young
children, adolescents, pregnant women andadults in low- and middle-income countries.
M u c h o f t h e c u r r e n t wo r k i s f o c u s e d o n
Tuberculosis (TB), undernutrition and diabetes in
TB patients in the Philippines, with researchstudies in both inpatient and outpatient
populations. We collaborate with investigatorsfrom San Lazaro Hospital, Manila, the Nutrition
Centre of the Philippines and the National TB
programme. Professor Cox is the principle
investigator of a large Filipino TB treatment
cohort (the St-ATT cohort) (ISRCTN16347615),with active follow-up of patients until 2 years
post-treatment. The cohor t also includes 3
nested PhD student research projects withcollaborators at the London School of Hygiene &Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Professor Cox isalso a co-investigator on a new, UK-funded,
multi-country study investigating the role of thepancreas in long-term effects of malnutrition

Our department is involved in various branches ofpublic health research. With cutting-edge IT andbiotechnology, we intend to create more accurate
assessment methods in global health, improve responses
to the public health needs on a local level, and open
new directions in health sciences to future generations.
Our activities include the following:1）Research on the construction of a wide-areasurveillance network for neglected tropical diseases(NTDs)We are conducting research on the developmentof a monitoring network for NTDs using multiplex
technology. We are also working with the University ofTokyo to automatically develop a system to identify
houses using satellite data for regional sampling
automatically.
2）Research on resident registration and population
dynamics in developing countries
In order to conduct epidemiological and regional
studies in developing countries with inadequate
population registration, we have been operating asystem to register all residents in the study area andperiodically update information on births, deaths,
migration. (Health and Demographic Surveillancesystem: HDSS) in Kenya. In addition, the introductionof cloud-based maternal and child registration andbiometric system for identification at medical institutions

occurring in child- and adulthood, with datacollection in Philippines, India, Tanzania andZambia, led by Prof Suzanne Filteau at LSHTM.

TB ward at San Lazaro Hospital, Manila

1. 1Edwards et al.-7XEHUF/XQJ'LV 2020; 24(7): 712-719.
2. Miyazaki et al. 7UDQV56RF7URS0HG +\J 2020; 114(6):401-407.
3. White et al. 6FL5HS 2020; 10(1): 4100.
4. Lee et al. 3/R621( 2019; 14(6): e0218193.
5. White et al. 3/R621( 2019; 14(5): e0215968.

are ongoing.
3）Research contributing to public health measuresfor healthy growth of children in Africa
Epidemiological studies on stunting (short heightcompared to the norm for age in months) are being
developed in rural Kenya. In addition, we areconstructing a birth cohort on child development frompregnancy to birth and beyond, obtaining information
on child care and feeding activities and on theenvironment to elucidate the epidemiological basis fordetermining factors related to child growth.
4）Research aimed at elucidating the molecular basisof parasitic diseases
We are conducting research on the molecularbasis of parasitic diseases such as schistosomiasis,
amebiasis, and leishmaniasis.
5）Development of mosquito vector survey tools andresearch on monkey malaria vectors
We are working with a research team from the
University of Malaysia and the UK to develop amosquito vector survey tool using 3D printing
technology and its application to the survey ofmonkey malaria vectors.

Assistant Professor

Tomonori Hoshi
1. Numair et al. ,QW-(QYLURQ5HV3XEOLF+HDOWK 2021; 18: 6196.
2. Tanaka et al. 3DUDVLWRO,QW 2021; 83: 102346.
3. Fukuda et al. %0&2UDO+HDOWK 2021; 21: 154.
4. Wanjihia et al. $XVWLQ-1XWU0HWDE 2021; 8: 1105.
5. Hitachi et al. ,QW-(QYLURQ5HV3XEOLF+HDOWK 2020; 17(19): 7269.

09Department of International Healthhas impact on its hosts . Based on thatand Medical Anthropology has started its

perception, our department aims to get

Public andEnvironmental Healthactivities since 2008.

more detailed understanding and insight

Department of International
Health and Medical Anthropology

ecosystem, 2) research on the environment

approaches such as molecular-evolutional

health, 3) research on biological evolutiont e c h n i q u e , m o l e c u l a r e p i d e m i o l o g y,Professor

Our research was composed of fouron infectious diseases. We would like tounits; 1) research on infectious diseases inpursue the ways of analysis by variousof microorganisms from the adaptation or

detection of trace DNA, genomics based

fitness viewpoint and 4) research on theon bioinformatics, mathematical model,

epidemiology from the historical viewpoint.

and computer science.

The umbrella concept linking above four

Another pillar of our department is a

research units is to reconstruct infectioussocial responsibility. Now that even profit

diseases "temporally" and "spatially" alike.

oriented organizations are required to have

Infection is the biological phenomenon as

its corporate social responsibility, no needan interaction between hosts andto say for academia or university. Out of

microorganisms . In other words , hostthe name of our department, it must be

behavior, social structure as well as culture

nothing but contribution to international

per se affect microorganisms in fitness

health or people's health in resource-limited

and adaptation whereas microorganism

settings. What we think of important is to

Taro Yamamoto

make solidarity in order to contribute to

Hiromu Itodepartment's goal.

sustainable development. It is ourAssistant Professor
Assistant Professor

Hiroaki Arima
1. Yazawa et al. $P-+XP%LRO 2021; doi:10.1002/ajhb.2344.
2. Kunna et al. 7UDQV56RF7URS0HG+\J 2020; 115: 297-306.
3. Sabin et al. -3K\VLRO$QWKURSRO 2020; doi:org/10.1186/s40101020-00239-5.
4. Akintije et al. $FWD0HG2ND\DPD 2020; 74(6): 495-503.
5. Ito et al. 56RF2SHQ6FL 2020; doi:10.1098/rsos.200891.

Public andEnvironmental Health

Department of Vector
Ecology and Environment

Our research interests include

Southeastern populations. The results

any thing from ecology to molecularsuggest that the African mosquito

biology of medically important arthropods,

populations were introduced from thepar ticularly mosquitoes that transmit

overseas. To test the hypothesis further,pathogens such as malaria parasites and

we a re c u r re n t l y c o n d u c t i n g va r i o u sdengue virus in Africa and Southeast Asia.

studies, including a study on virus

We are also interested in their relationships

susceptibility.

with environmental variables andFo r re d u c i ng ma l a r ia r i s k , we a redevelopment of environmentally friendly

e v a l u a t i n g t h e e f fe c t i v e n e s s o f n ew

vector control tools.

insecticides and insecticide treated

For dengue virus vectors, we revealedmosquito nets (ITNs) in Kenya and Malawi.

the geographical distributions of two

We are also developing a malaria earlysubspecies of (LKLZHLN`W[P in East andwarning system in Africa.

South African regions. Our study also
fo u n d t h a t t h e g e n e t i c s t r u c t u re s of(LHLN`W[PWVW\SH[PVUZ in the endemic areas
Professorof Africa are similar to those of

Noboru Minakawa
Associate Professor

Hitoshi Kawada
Assistant Professor

Toshihiko Sunahara
Assistant Professor

Kyoko Futami

1. Morimoto et al. 3DUDVLWHV9HFWRUV 2021; 14: 151.
2. Kawada et al. 3DUDVLWHV9HFWRUV 2020; 13: 213.
3. Itokawa et al. 3/R621( 2020; 15(4): e0232192.
4. Tamari et al. 0DODULD-RXUQDO 2020; 19: 373.
5. Hashimoto et al. 0LFURRUJDQLVPV 2020; 8(11): 1769.

10Public andEnvironmental Health

Department of International Health
Development and Policy

Department of International Health Development and Policy (former Department of Social Environment) was
re-established in 2018 by inviting three concurrent professors from the School of Tropical Medicine and Global
Health (TMGH). The three professors have expertise of health system strengthening (H. Aiga), child health andemergency assistance (Y. Kamiya), and human ecology and ecohealth (K. Moji). The department promotes policy
researches in various global health fields for making critical evaluation and constructive proposal for health policy.

Health Policy based on Human Ecology
Social determinants of health disparities havebeen revealed through studies of social epidemiology
since the late 20th Century. Health impacts of global
cl i m a te change as we l l as g l o b al (a n d l o c a l )environmental changes have been revealed almost

A research field in Laos

Implementation Science in Healthand Disability

Professor

Kazuhiko Moji
Professor

Yasuhiko Kamiya
Professor

Hirotsugu Aiga

My suppor t and study is focused on
redressing healt h disparit y in low- andmiddle - income countries. Notwithstanding
global evidence-based aid and national policy,
health disparit y has been widening withknow- do gap and mismatch (coexistence ofexcess and deficiency) in health service delivery
due to organizational path dependency, lack of
coordination, vertical silo of programs and aid
fragmentation. Just attributing health disparity
to lack of access to, and low supply of healthcare can mislead and delay its fundamental
problems. Through Implementation Sciencea p p l y i n g to i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o o p e r a t i o n fo rmaternal and child health, support for disabledchildren and non-communicable diseases, andemergency humanitarian assistance, myassistance and research facilitate local staff
and people identify bottlenecks and barrier tosimultaneously. To integrate all the factors related toour health, human ecological system thinking, or“ecohealth” thinking is indispensable. For global
health (or international health development) policy,
not only improvement of medical services but also
health promotion and disease prevention by meansof better hygiene and safer and healthier lifestyleand non-medical care and social supports should becollectively implemented. Health policy is beyond thenarrow medical policy. This department will promoteresearches on evaluation of health policy on
population health for better policy proposal.

1. Sato et al. 2QH+HDOWK 2020; 11: 100191.
2. Latio et al. 3/R621( 2020; 15(9): e0238643.
3. Hsai et al. 3DWLHQW3UHIHU$GKHUHQFH 2020; 14: 2489-2499.
4. Miyazaki et al. *ORE+HDOWK0HG 2020; 2(4): 247-254.
5. Tomokawa et al. +HDOWK3URPRW,QW 2020; doi:10.1093/heapro/daaa100.

strengthen health systems and governancebased on bottom-up problem-solving.

Training for Community Health Workers in Honduras

1. Takeuchi, et al.3HGLDWU,QW 2021; 14729.
2. Hsai et al. 3DWLHQW3UHIHUHQFH$GKHUHQFH 2020, 14: 2489-2499.
3. Kimitsuki et al. 3/R617'V 2020; 14(11): e0008844.
4. Tomokawa et al. *ORE+HDOWK3URPRW 2020.
5. Akiyama et al. +HDOWK3URPRW,QW2020; daaa005.

Health System Strengthening
In the absence of appropriately
functioning systems for health ser vicedelivery, new medical technologies anddrugs that are clinically effective would
end up not reaching the populations in
need. Key elements of health systems (e.g.
health workforce, health information andhealth financing) particularly in the context
of LMICs are one of my research topics.
Needless to say, while recognizing theimportance of optimization and adaptationof global standards for health systems tolocal settings, their critical verification andexamination in view of field realities areequally important.

11

An experienced nurse managing a rural health center in Brundi

1. Aiga et al. %0-1XWU3UHY+HDOWK 2020; 3(2): 320-338.
2. Kawakatsu et al. +HDOWK3ROLF\2SHQ 2020; 1: 100019.
3. Kawakatsu et al. 9DFFLQH 2020; 38(42): 6600-6608.
4. Balogun et al. 7ULDOV 2020; 21: 737.
5. Aiga, /DQFHW 2020; 395(10217): 27.

Clinical Medicine
and Research

Department ofClinical Medicine

This is the only clinical depar tment in
NEKKEN , which do es clinical practices in
Nagasaki University Hospital. We conduct a
wi d e r a n g e o f m u l t i - d i s c i p l i n a r y s t u d i e sbridging our strength of clinical epidemiology
to laborator y-based microbiology andimmunology both in- and outside Japan. Our
m a i n r e s e a r c h i n t e r e s t s a r e r e s p i r a to r yinfectious diseases, acute undifferentiatedfebrile illness, tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS.
Specific research topics are as described
below:●Respiratory Infections Diseases, including
Tuberculosis
We a p p l y ou r in - hous e m u l t i p l ex- P CR
a s s a y s t o i d e n t i f y 19 d i f fe re n t v i r a l a n dbacterial respiratory pathogens and a novel
nano -fluidic real-time PCR-based assay todetermine 50 pneumococcus serotypes forstudies in- and outside Japan. We also conduct
TB research with a special interest in

Professor

Koya Ariyoshi

TB -specific cellular immune responses
protective to t he disease pro g re s sion. In
response to SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, we started
to conduct clinical epidemiology research on
COVID-19 in the Philippines in early 2020.
●Fever management in the tropical countriesItʼs challenging to diagnose and manage
non-malarial fever without localizing sign suchas leptospirosis, rickettsiosis, dengue fever,which are common in the tropical countries.
We are investigating acute undifferentiatedfebrile illness in the Department of Infectious
Diseases, Bac Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam andthe National Infectious Disease Hospital (San
Lazaro Hospital), the Philippines, by applying
various new diagnostic tests.
●HIV/AIDS Studies and others
In collaboration with National Institute of
Health, Thailand, we have conducted a natural
history cohort of HIV infection. New researchis still on-going based on the data and clinicalsamples derived from the cohort. Furthermore,
we i nve s t i g a te m o l e c u l ar m e c h a n i s ms ofpathogenesis caused by retroviruses and othermicrobials.

Professor

Chris Smith

Associate Professor

Yoshinao Kubo
Assistant Professor

Momoto Yamauchi

Clinical Medicine andResearch

Department of Respiratory
Infections

Bed-side clinical training course in San Lazaro Hospital

1. Saito et al. &OLQ,QIHFW'LV 2021; 72: 61-68.
2. Yanagisawa et al. 3/R621( 2020; 15: e0242438.
3. Yamashita et al. )URQW,PPXQRO2019; 10: Article 2807.
4. Katoh et al. 3/R61HJO7URS'LV 2019; 13: e0007928.
5. Saito et al. &OLQ,QIHFW'LV 2018; 67: 897-904.

We are conducting epidemiologicalwhich is o ne is s ue in t he s t ud y ofstudies of respiratory infectious diseases

cost-effectiveness of vaccines for thecaused by bot h bacteria and v iruses ,elderly.

mainly Streptococcus pneumoniae, mainly●

upper respirator y tract carriage ofactivities are as follows.

:[YLW[VJVJJ\ZWUL\TVUPHL in the older
people, both at home and in nursing●

In the clinical epidemiological study ofhomes. For this study, we are also

pneumococcal pneumonia , we ared eve l o p i n g m e t h o d o l o gy t h a t a reconducting sur veillance of adultappropriate for studies of older

pneumococcal pneumonia in 27 city

people with low bacterial load andcarriage rates.

hospitals in Japan. The purpose of thisstudy is to clarify the serot ype

Professor

Konosuke Morimoto
Associate Professor

Bhim Gopal Dhoubhadel

We a re c o n d u c t i n g a re s e a rch onin the domestic field. Our research●●

Under the COVID-19 pandemic, we are

distribution of pneumococcal

trying to clarify the epidemiologicalpneumonia and the epidemiologicalcharacteristics of COVID-19 throughcharacteristics of each serotype, andcluster analysi s . Currently, we areto recommend optimal vaccine

conducting a cluster analysis ofpolicies in the older people.

long-term care facilities in Nagasaki

Using the latest serotype distribution

City.

obtained from the pneumococcal
pneumonia sur veillance, we arec o n d u c t i n g a c o s t- e f f e c t i v e n e s sanalysis of pneumococcal vaccines in
the older people in collaboration with
Yokohama City University. We are also
conducting research to evaluate the

1. Miyahara et al. (PHUJLQJ,QIHFW'LV 2021; 27(3): 915‒918.
2. Sando et al. -7UDYHO0HG 2021; 28(2): taaa163.
3. Furuse et al. (PHUJLQJ,QIHFW'LV 2020; 26(9): 2176‒2179.
4. Yasuda et al. 9DFFLQH2020; 38(21): 3752‒3758.

qualit y of life and burden of care,

12Clinical Epidemiological Studies on Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Clinical Medicine andResearch

Department of Pediatric
Infectious Diseases

The Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
conducts research on a wide range of infectious diseases
with special attention on severe pediatric infectious
diseases including pneumonia, diarrhea, and dengue which
are the major causes of under 5 mortality. We also
investigate congenital infections and its impact on childdevelopment. The Severe Acute Respiratory SyndromeCoronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak occurred in Wuhan,
China in December 2019 which then spread globally andbecame pandemic in March 2020. Thus, we expanded our
research activities to COVID-19. We have setup a fieldresearch laboratory and a population cohort study site in
Nha Trang, Vietnam. Environmental epidemiology is anotherarea of our interest, focusing on the health impacts ofatmospheric environmental changes including climate
variability, global climate change and air pollution.
The current research topics,

Professor

Lay-Myint Yoshida
Associate Professor

Michiko Toizumi
Assistant Professor

Mohammad Shah
Assistant Professor

Lina Madaniyazi
Assistant Professor

Hirono Otomaru

1. Cohort studies on Pediatric Infectious Diseases in Vietnam:
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 surveillance: A population based hospitalized
Pediatric acute respiratory infection (ARI) surveillance at
Khanh Hoa General Hospital, Nha Trang, Vietnam wasestablished to determine incidence, etiology and risk factors
for pediatric ARI/pneumonia since 2007. We also investigate
the emergence of new viruses and its molecular and clinicalimportance. In addition, we also investigate the impact or
potential of various vaccine introduction on pneumonia anddengue in a population level.
3. Birth cohort study: We have conducted a birth cohort study
on 2000 new born babies in Nha Trang, Vietnam since 2009.
This study is to study congenital infection and host genetic
factors on physical-neurological development of the child anddevelopment of severe pediatric infectious diseases. We also
set up a new birth cohort study in 2017-2018 to investigate
congenital infection including rubella, cytomegalo, and zika

virus and the effect on the child development.
4. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) reduced dosing
trial: We received a multimillion dollar grant from Bill andMelinda 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 the availability of
PCV and other vaccines in developing countries.
5. Dengue intra-family transmission in the community: In
collaboration with London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine, we are conducting a dengue intra-familytransmission study in the community in Nha Trang.
6. COVID-19 related research: We are currently conducting
clinical epidemiological characterization and long-term
complication and immunological responses of COVID-19 in
Vietnamese population. We are also investigating the vaccine
response among medical, non-medical and previous
COVID-19 cases in Vietnam and Japan.
7. Environmental epidemiology: We are conducting several
studies on health impact of climate change and air pollution
on the local and global scale.

PCV vaccination field work in Nha Trang

1. Wang et al. /DQFHW*ORE+HDOWK2021; 9(1): e33-e43.
2. Mohamed et al. 6FL5HS 2021; 11(1): 337.
3. Biggs et al. %0&0HG 2020; 18(1): 364.
4. Ngwe et al. $P-7URS0HG+\J 2020; 103(5): 2059-2064.
5. Madaniyazi et al. (QYLURQ,QW2020; 140: 105610.

Nagasaki University has entered into a

Through the collaboration, Nagasaki University

comprehensive cooperation agreement withand Shionogi will become a key part of the newShionogi Global
Infectious Diseases

Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka, Japan) inopen innovation based on the industry-academia

the field of infectious diseases focused on malaria

collaboration both domestic and overseas, andon February 28, 2019. Through this agreement,

will establish a platform aiming at eradication ofNagasaki University and Shionogi intended tomalaria. We will strive to contribute to the healthAlliance Coordinator

establish Shionogi Global Infectious Diseaseof people around the world through ongoing

Division (SHINE) as a collaborative research

provision of the best preventive and therapeutics

division at Institute of Tropical Medicine. The aimof malaria.

of the establishment is to accelerate and facilitate
the drug discovery research for malaria. Thisdivision will concentrate on studies to understandthe life cycle of malaria parasites and the hostdefense mechanism, which are essential for the
diagnosis and treatment of malaria. And final
goals are to create an innovative novel drug andvaccine to meet Target Product Profile based on
the findings from the studies.
Malaria is one of the top 3 infectious diseases
worldwide along with AIDS and tuberculosis, andmainly occurs in epidemics in tropical regions andProfessor

Tsuyoshi Kihara

subtropical regions. The efficacy of existing
preventive vaccine is insufficient and also a
number of parasites have been developing
resistance to existing medicines. Therefore,
malaria has been a serious threat to humanglobally.
Our division consists an Alliance Management
and 4 departments, Cellular Architecture Studies,
Molecular Infection Dynamics, Immune Regulationand Exploratory Research for Drug Discovery.

13

S h i o n o g i P re s s Re l e a s e , Fe b28 , 2019, S h i o n o g i e n t e rs into
Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement in the Field of Infectious
Disease Focused on Malaria with Nagasaki University

1. Shionogi Global Infectious Diseases Division

Shionogi Global
Infectious Diseases

Department of Cellular
Architecture Studies

discover a new drug target .

We searchmolecular factors that are involved in ʻintelligent

Shionogi Global Infectious Diseases Divisioninterior designʼ by parasites, and aim to find new

was established in April 2019, through theantimalarial drug targets and compounds whichcollaboration agreement between Shionogi

p reve nt s t rans i t i o n to se r ve r m a l a r i a . O u r& Co. , LTD. and Nagasaki University to tackle

re s e a rc h h a s b e e n m e rg i n g a d va n t a g e s o fmalaria. Four laboratories, Departments of Cellularclassical b iochemistr y/cellular b i o l o g y andArchitecture Studies, Molecular Infection Dynamics,

biophysical approaches . High - resolution

Immune Regulation, and Exploratory Researchi m a g i n g , l i p i d o m i c s , p r o t e i n c h e m i s t r y,

for Drug Discovery. We share same laboratory

high-throughput screening for inhibitor

space and team up for our mission to find new drug

compounds have been actively used to achieve

and vaccine candidates by taking advantages ofour goal. We share our data and collaborate

expertise from each department. This is thewit h other three laboratories for advanced

unique but powerful collaboration that expands

experiments for for tif ying our scientific

our scientific potential and flexibility.

competence.

2. Research Activity
Blood stage of malaria parasite invades
human erythrocytes and proliferates by creatingi t s own c e l l u l a r e nv i ro n m e n t . T h is p ro c e s sProfessor

includes fo r mations of co m p l ex m e m b rane

Assistant Professor

transpor tations of parasite proteins to

Fuyuki Tokumasu
Shinya Miyazaki

structures inside er y throcy te cytoplasm anderythrocyte membrane. Studying this host cell
modifications is essential in Plasmodium

Complex membrane structures that appear in parasitized humanerythrocytes soon after the infection with a variety of size and shape.

falciparum research, that often induces severforms of malaria. We believe that unveiling themolecular mechanisms of structural andchemical balance of parasitized erythrocytes
a l l ows u s to f i n d i m p o r t a n t i n fo r m a t i o n to

The Department of Molecular Infection
Dynamics, in cooperation with Department ofShionogi Global
Infectious Diseases

Department of Molecular
Infection Dynamics

1. Tokumasu et al. 3DUDVLWRO,QW 2021; 83: 102369.
2. Tanaka et al. %LRO2SHQ 2019; 8: bio042259.
3. Hayakawa et al. ([S3UDVLWRO 2015; 153: 174-9.
4. Tokumasu et al. %LRO2SHQ 2014; 3: 529-541.
5. Tokumasu et al. ([S3DUDVLWRO 2012; 131: 245-251.

/LSPJVIHJ[LYW`SVYP.

We also conduct research on cancer.

Exploratory Research for Drug Discovery aim toIntestinal parasites have evolved sophisticatedidentify drug target molecules and to establish

machinery to adapt and survive in hypoxic

screening systems in order to find leadandcompounds with potential use for treatment,(microenvironment). Certain type of cancer cells

prophylaxis and transmission blocking against

also possess similar machinery to survive undermalaria.

tumor microenvironment.

nutrient

deprived

environment

Our activities are supported by researchThis Department conduct research on
microaerophilic metabolism conserved in

grants acquired from KAKENHI (MEXT), AMED,GHIT and Private Companies.

several pathogens such as parasites (protozoa
andhelminth)understand

the

and

bacteria,

molecular

order

to

mechanism

inofparasitism phenomena.
We utilize multidisciplinary approaches,
consisted by biochemistry, molecular biology,
biophysics, structural biology and chemical
biology, to conduct our basic and applied
Associate Professor

Daniel Ken Inaoka
Assistant Professor

Takaya Sakura

research.
Ourtargetinfectious

diseases

includeprotozoan parasites such as 7SHZTVKP\T spp.,;OLPSLYPH spp., ;Y`WHUVZVTH JY\aP ; IY\JLP and
3LPZOTHUPHspp.; helminthes such as (ZJHYPZZ\\T(UPZHRPZ spp., /HLTVUJO\ZJVU[VY[\Z and -HZJPVSH
spp.,

and

bacterial

pathogens

such

as

4`JVIHJ[LYP\T spp., *HTW`SVIHJ[LY QLQ\UP and

1. Endah et al. ,QW-0RO6FL 2021; in press.
2. Villafraz et al. P%LR2021; in press.
3. Nurkanto et al. )URQW&HOO,QIHFW0LFURELRO 2021; 11: 639065.
4. Sato et al. *HQHV 2020; 11(12): 1468.
5. Mochizuki et al. %%$%LRHQHUJHWLFV 2020; 1861(11): 148283.

14

Our scope is the human immune response
against malaria, and malaria vaccine development.

Shionogi Global
Infectious Diseases

Department of
Immune Regulation

into vaccine development to against 7SHZTVKP\TMHSJPWHY\T, one of the malaria parasites affected
human most.

Malaria parasite life cycle is divided intoliver (pre-erythrocytic) stage and erythrocytic
stage in human. Even with urgent appearance ofdrug resistant strain, many antimalarial drugs
are available for erythrocytic stage. However, inliver stage, only a few drugs with side effectsa r e ava i l a b l e , a n d t h u s , v a c c i n e a n d n ove lantimalarial dr ug development are still andurgent issue for liver stage.
Considering the immunity against malaria
pathogen in liver stage, cytotoxic T lymphocytes
i n c e l l u l a r i m m u n i t y i s e s s e n t i a l. H oweve r,
current vaccine development biased in inducing
neutralizing antibody.

Associate Professor

Shusaku Mizukami

To archive the goal, our vaccine development
focuses on cellular immunity during malaria liver
stage. We put effort in examining and optimizing(a) vaccine antigen, (b) antigen delivery system, (c)vaccine adjuvant, and (d) route of administration.
Our study started with mouse malaria model,
and eventually, we aim to apply our understanding

Malaria is one of the three largest infectious

Shionogi Global
Infectious Diseases

Department of Exploratory
Research for Drug Discovery

1. Tran et al. $FWD7URS 2021: 105823.
2. Manh et al.)URQW,PPXQRO 2020; 11: 1980.
3. Iglesias Rodríguez et al. %0-2SHQ 2020; 10(9):e032546.
4. Teklemichael et al. 0DODU- 2020; 19(1):204.
5. Manh et al. -*HQ9LRO 2018; 99(9): 1239-1247.

■ Optimization of drug metabolism, safety, anddiseases in the world, which aligns with HIV andphysical parameters of candidate compounds

tuberculosis. More than 200 million people arewithin Shionogi

infected with malaria and more than 400,000
people died annually. There has b een still no■ C o n d u c t i n g t a rg e t d i s c ove r y a n d b a s i cresearch for antimalarial drugs

effective vaccine, and resistant malaria to existing
therapeutic drugs have been reported, and thedevelopment of new drugs is urgently necessary.
In this department, a Shionogiʼs researcher isin charge of principal investigator, and together
with the three departments in SHINE division. We
will take on the role of hubs that connect research
assets such as know-how and global network ofmalaria research, which are the strengths ofNagasaki University, and screening drug discovery
utilizing the small molecule SAR (structure-activity
relationship) engine, which is the strengths ofShionogi, to promote the discovery research of
new therapeutic drugs by taking advantage ofeach strengths. Especially, the purpose is tocreate a therapeutic drug with strong antimalarial

Visiting Associate Professor

Teruhisa Kato

(Director, Head of Infectious Diseases
3 Group, SHIONOGI & CO., LTD.)

activity and high safety with the department of
Molecular Infection Dynamics.
Research activities are as follows:■ Pro m o t i o n of d r u g d i s c ove r y re s e a rch o nscreening-based drug discovery■ Implementation of Hit to Lead Structure-Activity
Relationship (SAR) approach, and optimization oflead scaffolds■ Strengthening external collaboration for clinicaldevelopment and identifying new targets

15

1. Ryckmans et al. %LRRUJ0HG&KHP/HWW2011; 21: 4857-4859.
2. Mori et al. -3KDUPDFRO([S7KHU 2009; 328: 671-679.

Associated Facility
Center for Infectious Disease Research in Asia and Africa

Kenya Research
StationNagasaki University Institute of Tropical
Medicine and Kenya Medical Research Institute(NUITM-KEMRI) Project was launched by signing
the Memorandum of Understanding between the
President of NUITM and the Director of KEMRI in
2005. The project's objective was to enhanceresearch and develop capacity building in tropical
medicine at the laboratory and field levels. In
January 2006, Kenya Research Station wasestablished and set up biosafety Level 2 and 3
laboratories and Health and Demographic
Surveillance System (HDSS) in Mbita near Lake
Victoria and Kwale on the coast side of Kenya,
which has registered about 120,000 people.
Additionally, Mosquito Surveillance System (MSS)
has been functional for research on malarial
mosquitos in Mbita.
1. Research activities:
Primary research teams are organized according to
the external research grants or funds. The
SATREPS Project for rapid diagnostics andestablishing an alert system for the outbreak of
Yellow Fever and Rift Valley Fever were achieved
and completed in 2017. AMED-funded project forserological surveillance on neglected tropicaldiseases (NTDs) is completed in 2020. We havestart research activities toward the formation of IoTProfessor

Professor

Shingo Inoue

Vietnam Research
StationChief Representative, Professor

Futoshi Hasebe
Assistant Professor

Taichiro Takemura

2. Education and training activities:
The station accepts Master's and Ph.D. students
from the Graduate School of Tropical Medicine andGlobal Health and the Graduate School of
Biomedical Sciences at Nagasaki University. The
station is also providing research opportunities foryoung researchers and students from Kenyan
institutions.
3. Social contribution activities:
We kicked off a JICA Grass-root project focusing on
Jigger control in Mbita in 2020 to give feedback to
the communities.

1. Fukuda et al. %0&2UDO+HDOWK 2021; 21: 154.
2. Wanjihia et al. $XVWLQ-1XWU0HWDE 2021; 8.
3. Tanaka et al. 3DUDVLWROLQW2021; 83: 102346.
4. Tomokawa et al. *ORE+HDOWK3URPRW 2020; 27: 78‒87.
5. Inziani et al. ,QW-,QIHFW'LV 2020; 91.

Satoshi Kaneko(Chief Representative)

Associated Facility
Center for Infectious Disease Research in Asia and Africa

academic centers that contribute to theimprovement and improvement of global health asan Asia-Africa Science Platforms of Core-to-Core
Program supported by the JSPS. There are 13
research activities conducted at Kenya Research
Station funded by the JSPS (KAKEN). In addition,
research projects supported by pharmaceuticalcompanies for Rotavirus research and by funding
agencies such as the Grand Challenge Canada had
been organized to develop the mother and childregistration system.

Since 2015, the Japan Initiative for Global Research
Network on Infectious Disease (J-GRID) project has beentaken over to the newly established Japan Agency for
Medical Research and Development (AMED) and J-GRID
project, a new five-year project, "Study on Emerging andRe-emerging Infectious Diseases in Vietnam." has been
started from 2020. The Vietnam Research Station in the
National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) in
Hanoi is currently manned by 3 staffs from NU, and the Nha
Trang sub-station by a permanent staff, in addition to which
21 staff from NU and a further 32 researchers from otherresearch institutions participate in the activities of theStation and conduct research. The main research topics ared e n g u e feve r, i nfe c t i o us d ia r r h e a , i n f l u e n z a , a n ddrug-resistant bacteria, severe childhood pneumonia,
zoonotic diseases (bat-derived infectious diseases) and newcoronavirus infection (COVID-19) are included to study tocontribute to prevention of infectious diseases collaboration
with National Center for Global Health and Medicine. In
addition, six joint research projects were adopted as
research for utilizing the Vietnam Research Station
collaboration with the National Institute of Infectious
Diseases, Osaka University, Kyoto University, Hokkaido
University, Tokai University, and Kumamoto University. An
outbreak of COVID-19 occurred in Vietnam in late January
2020, we cooperated with NIHE to conduct a rapid
diagnostic method by SARS-CoV-2 specific real time

RT-PCR, virus isolation, viral gene analysis, and developed an
ELISA system using the N protein of SARS-CoV-2 for
COVID-19 serodiagnosis. It was used in sero-epidemiologicalsurvey of COVID-19 in Vietnam. On September 30, 2020, a
joint web symposium “Research on Infectious diseases inVietnam and development of application in diagnosis,
prevention and treatment” was held between NIHE and
Nekken at The ANN Hotel in Hanoi. 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,
and also utilized as an on-the-job-training facility for otherresearchers from NU and other universities. However, due tothe pandemic of COVID-19 in 2020, all overseas training
program utilizing the Vietnam Research station and outreachactivity such as NU Hanoi public lecture were cancelled.

Bat survey in Lang Son province. (2020.11.19)

NIHE-Nagasaki University Scientific Symposium in Hanoi. (2020.09.30)

1. Buerano et al. (PHUJ,QIHFW'LV2020; 26(9): 2300-2301.
2. Inagaki et al.-9LURO2020; JVI.00673-20.
3. Nguyen et al. %0&,QIHFW'LV 2020; 20(1): 332.
4. Nguyen et al. -*ORE$QWLPLFURE5HVLVW 2020; pii: S2213-7165(20)30125-9.
5. Maeda et al. -9LURO2020; pii: JVI.00193-20.

16

Associated Facility

Tropical Medicine
MuseumThe Museum of Tropical Medicine has functions as aresource center on Tropical Medicine. There are sections
providing information on tropical diseases, parasites, bacteria,
virus, insects (vectors), specimen of dangerous animals,
audio-visual materials and historically valuable documents on
tropical medicine. The audio-visual section demonstrates
interesting scientific movies with 80-inch screen. We have
newly established a booth to identify mosquitoes byobservation to arouse interest and understanding on tropicalinfectious diseases for wider age group.
In the fiscal year of 2020, the Coronavirus Disease(COVID-19) influenced on our activities. Particularly, the Stateof Emergency declared by the government made us temporally
close the museum from April 17 through May 22 2020. Also,
various events were hold online. Due to these above
mentioned, number of visitors to the museum have been
drastically decreased. Under the situation, main activities ofthe museum in 2020 are as indicated below.

Professor

Junko Okumura● MUSEUM MANAGEMENT & OPERATION: The museum
provides information on tropical infectious diseases by using
approximately100 panels, microscopic images, movies,
specimens, educational models of Bio-safety level-4 (BSL-4),
and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for BSL-4. Althoughmain visitors are Japanese, quite a few people visit fromoverseas. Therefore, we provide information in English andChinese (mandarin) for non-Japanese speakers.
In addition to the museum routine tasks, we actively
worked the following event and issues. Regarding theTechnologist

Kazuo Araki

education material development for primary school pupils toprovide life-skills in a Post-COVID-19 society, it will be carriedon to the next year.
1) Considering the COVID-19 endemic, we organize ando p e r a te ʻ N E K K E N N a t s u - j u k u 2020 ʼ wh i c h wa s
implemented as an online seminar. Besides taking a role ofmanagement for the seminar, Prof. Okumura worked as achairperson and promoted discussions during the event.
2) COVID-19 related stigma is one of the great concerns inJapan as well as the world. In collaboration with facultiesof Education and Technology, Nagasaki University, Prof.
Okumura developed a teaching material (tentative version)for primary school pupils. This work will be carried on to
the year of 2021.
● IT (INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY) INFRASTRUCTURE
MAINTENANCE: Network tools and servers are updated withtechnological innovation and maintaining its security. It
provides safe and secure IT environment to researchers,
students and staff members who work at NEKKEN. In addition,
we update and maintain the contents and the system for the
NEKKEN homepage.
With IT innovations, the requests from the NEKKEN members
are getting wider and more variety ones. To respond to them
we obtain new software and devices as much as possible.
● RESEARCH: Prof. Okumura conducts research in Lao PDR
and Republic of Guinea. She collects epidemiological data on
infectious diseases, health seeking behavior, nutrition etc. inorder to identify risk factors affect peopleʼs health. Also, shecollects various kinds of information on BSL-4 laboratories in
the world to establish much secure environment of the
National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of
Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University.
1. Canara et al. %0&3XEOLF+HDOWK ; 2020; 20(1) : e1298.
2. Okumura et al. -,QWO+HDOWK2019; 34(1): 35-43.
3. Delamou et al. /DQFHW*ORE+HDOWK 2017; 5(4): e448-e457.
4. Camara et al. 7UDQV56RF7URS0HG+\J 2017; 111: 22-29.
5. Delamou et al.%0-*OREDO+HDOWK 2017; 2: e000202.

Associated Facility

Central ResearchLaboratory

The aim of the Central Research Laboratory

instruments to perform basic, translational, andis to efficiently operate and manage common

clinical research on the imaging features ofequipments and to support general laboratory

infectious disease. We operate Nikon Infectious

activities in the institute. In addition, thisDisease Imaging Core laboratory established inlaborator y also suppor ts research activities

April 2015. The laboratory has equipped laser

conducte d in the institute by ex tramuralscanning confocal/fluorescence microscope

investigators.

(NIKON), Imaging Flow Cy tometer (Luminex),l a s e r s c a n n i n g c o n fo c a l/s u p e r- r e s o l u t i o n○Molecular & Cellular Biology Unit
Molecular & Cellular Biology Unit ismicroscope (ZEISS), and a Virtual Slide Scanner(Nanozoomer 2.0-RS, Hamamatsu Photonics).

responsible to maintain and operate following
equipments located in the Central Research○Electron Microscope Unit

Laboratory; 16- and 48-capillary sequencers,

Electron Microscope Unit suppor ts

GS junior genome sequencer and Massultrastructural characterization of microbial

Spectrometr y-based Genotyping system forpathogens and the structural chang e of theg e n o m e a n a l y s i s; F l ow C y t o m e t e r fo r c e l lpathogen-infected cells. This unit offers highfunction analysis; luminescence imager forq u a l i t y i m a g i n g s e r v i c e s b y s t a t e - o f- a r tvisualization analysis; and Luminex Bead-array

techniques such as conventional andsystem and Fluorescence - Luminescence

immuno - electron microscopy and 3D

Multilabel Counter for multipurpose analysis. In

to mography, and also prov ide s t raining on

Shinjiro Hamano

addition, this unit is also responsible forsample preparation and equipment usage. This

maintaining the equipments/facilities to supportu n i t i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r Tr a n s m i s s i o n a n d

Mihoko Kikuchi

gene ral la b orator y ac t i v i t i e s; such as PureS c a n n i n g E l e c t ro n M i c r o s c o p e s (J EO L ),Wa ter Su p p l y, Ul t racentrifuge , Lyophilizer,

U l t r a - M i c ro t o m e s ( L E I CA a n d R E I C H E R T ),S p e e d -Va c , Fre n c h P re s s , B i o r u p to r, B e a dvacuum coater, Hydrophilic Treatment Device,

Crusher, sample storage in liquid nitrogen,a n d O s m i u m P l a s m a C o a t e r i n a d d i t i o n to

Head and Professor

Senior Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor

Miako Sakaguchi

Autoclave, dark room and cold room.

general laboratory facilities for a wide range
application of electron microscopy.

○Light Microscope Unit
L ight Microscope Unit provides optical

17

NEKKEN Bio-Resource Center (NBRC)

Associated Facility

NEKKEN Bio-Resource
CenterProject Representative, Professor

Osamu Kaneko

Service Manager, Assistant Professor

Makoto Kazama

in Japan, including NBRC, with their owner

was established in 2015 to take charge

and strain information (2) acceptance ofof

National BioResource Project (NBRP)

pathogenic protozoa for deposit, (3)mission in Institute of Tropical Medicine

preservation of protozoan strains, (4)(NEKKEN). NBRP constructs the framework

distribution of a variety of protozoan strains,for systematic collection, preservation, andand (5) distribution of their microscopic

distribution of bio-resources with a focus on

specimens

those that required strategic development

organizations. To facilitate the collection,by the National Government. To promote life

preservation, and provision of bio-resources,sciences it is important for researchers to

NBRC also implements the development

foreducationinacademicshare the various bio-resources necessaryof related technologies. Approximately

for pursuing researches and developments.

900 strains of pathogenic protozoa are

NEKKEN has participated to NBRP services

preserved in NBRC, and approximately halfsince 2002 when it was initiated by theof them are available to supply. Last year

Ministry

Sports,NBRC provided 47 protozoan strains to

Science and Technology (MEXT). NBRP hasof

Education,

Culture,researchers. NBRC is currently preparing

been maintained by Japan Agency fordeposit and supply of genetically modified

Medical Research and Development (AMED)

protozoan parasites. Your cooperation andduring 2015-2020 and by MEXT from 2021

support to the project would be highly

again. We have been serving as Divisionappreciated.

of Protozoa in “Pathogenic Eukaryotic

resources available from NBRC are listed in

Microorganisms of a Core Facility Upgrading

the following website.

Pathogenic

protozoan

Program” under Medical Mycology Research
http://www.tm.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/nbrc/

Center (MMRC), Chiba University.
NBRC supports the research andE-mail: protozoa@tm.nagasaki-u.ac.jp

education on pathogenic protozoa byproviding following services; (1) web-based
database of pathogenic protozoa maintained

The Center for Neglected Tropical Diseases

Associated Facility

Neglected Tropical Diseases
Innovation Center(NTDi Center)

Innovation (NTDi Center) was established in 2016of research and development activities of theInstitute of Tropical Medicine.

to stimulate research and development in the fieldof tropical medicine, including neglected tropicaldiseases (NTDs) at the Institute of Tropical
Medicine (NEKKEN), utilize NEKKEN's research

Vision: What the NTDi Center aims to achieve
To function as an intelligence organization that
supports the strategic development of NEKKEN.

resources, promote collaboration between industry,
government, and the private sectors, and build
domestic and international networks. To date, it

Value: Guidelines for NTDi Center activities
The NTDi Center will operate according tohas provided support for the acquisition of

the following policies;

large -scale

1. Strategic utilization of NERC's research resources

external

research

grantsandestablished the Japan Alliance on Global NTDs

(including overseas sites)(JAGntd) project in 2018, a domestic network

2. Cooperation with inside and outside the University

related to NTDs. Currently, the center is under

3. Strengthening of related networks

reconstruction for strengthening an intelligence

4. Acquisition of large scale grants for researchfunction of NEKKEN for the 4th mid-term goal of

5. Identifying talented young researchers for tropicalthe University.

medicine

The mission, vision, and values of the NTDi
Center were established this year as follows.
Mission: The role of the NTDi Center
The NTDi Center will support the revitalization
Professor (Director)

Satoshi Kaneko

Professor (Deputy Director)

Tsuyoshi Kihara
Assistant Professor

Kota Yoshioka
Assistant Professor

Taeko Moriyasu

18

Associated FacilityOﬃce of Coordinationfor Humanitarian Aﬀairs

Section Chief, Professor

Taro Yamamoto(Introduction)
In 2016, the Office of Coordination for
Humanitarian Affairs was set up in our
institute. Prof. Taro Yamamoto, who also
heads the Department of International
Health and Medical Anthropology, wasnominated as the first chief of this section.
One year has passed since its inception
during which time we have dispatchedmissions to natural disaster affected areas
and yellow fever epidemic areas.
（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, do research, and become
the center of an international humanitarian
network.

Tohoku region in 2011 just after the East
Japan Great Earthquake, West Africa in 2014
and Nepal 2015.
These activities make
NEKKEN one of the leading organizations inJapan in terms of disaster relief activities.
Further, the infectious diseases team forJapanese Disaster Relief was decided in acabinet meeting in October, 2015 based
upon the fact that Ebola broke out in West
Africa in 2014 and there was an internationalcall for cooperation to help deal with it.
NEKKEN is expected to serve as one of themain 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.

（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,

Associated FacilityOﬃce for Training
and Education

The main role of our office is to run acompleted the course. The course is run by the steering

short-course of tropical medicine, Training Course ofcommittee, which consists of members from both

Tropical Medicine (TTM). This course aims to support

inside and outside the Institute of Tropical Medicine

medical and co-medical personnel who plan to work in(NEKKEN).

the tropics, by providing opportunities to learn a broad

During the thirteen weeks (April to June), therange of skills and knowledge relevant to practicing

full-time staff members of NEKKEN and a substantial

medicine, implementing disease control programs andnumber of visiting professors and lecturers provide

conducting medical research in tropical and developing

lectures, laboratory practical and field work, in the

countries. The course began in 1978 and since 2016, it

f i e l d s o f v i r o l o g y, b a c t e r i o l o g y, p r o t o z o o l o g y,opens to the researchers who pursue technology forp a r a s i t o l o g y, m e d i c a l e n t o m o l o g y, p a t h o l o g y,

global health. Over 15 participants are accepted toimmunogenetics, epidemiology, human ecology, social

attend the course in each year. As of the 44th course in

medicine, clinical medicine and also geography and2021, 603 participants in total (including 210 medical

culture in tropics. Par ticipants who successfully

doctors, and 393 co-medical such as veterinarian,completed the course are awarded the Diploma innurses, communit y health nurses, midwives,

Tropical Medicine.

pharmacists and others) from all over Japan have

Head and Professor

Koya Ariyoshi

Assistant Professor

Momoko Yamauchi

Completion ceremony in 2021

19

The clinical department of the Instituteof Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN) is the only
department in NEKKEN, which has clinicalduties in the Nagasaki University Hospital.
It was originally established in 1967 ands i n c e , i t has b e e n l o c a l l y k n own as“NEKKEN-NAIKA”.
Currently the depar tment runs an
out-patient clinic and provides in-patientscare in a general internal medicine ward
(16 beds) and a TB ward (6 beds), closelycollaborating wit h t he depar t ment ofgeneral medicine. We are mainly
responsible for treating patients withcomplicated infectious diseases, such as
sepsis, unknown febrile illness, HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis, rickettsiosis, SFTS, tropial
infectious diseases. In addition, we receive
over 600 consultation cases per year,

The University Hospital
Infectious Disease Ward

Professor

Koya Ariyoshi
Professor

Chris Smith
Professor

Konosuke Morimoto
Professor

Akitsugu FurumotoLecturer

Hirotomo Yamanashi

referred by almost all the otherdepartments, suspected with infectious
diseases. We also run a travel clinic forinternational travelers.
We take a major tole of training ande d u c a t i o n o n i n fe c t i o u s d i s e a s e s fo r
undergraduate students and bed -side
training programs for resident physicians
and infectious disease fellows. One of our
missions is to support medical doctors
who aim to work abroad as a clinician
v o l u n t e e r o r a c l i n i c a l r e s e a r c h e r.
Therefore, we regularly organize a clinicalcase conference in English, occasionallylinking with oversea. Staff and resident
doctors are dispatched to hospitals in thetropics of Asia and Africa. That helps us toaccumulate our knowledge and experience
with clinical tropical medicine.

Assistant Professor

Kensuke Takahashi
Assistant Professor

Kosuke Matsui
Assistant Professor

Momoko Yamauchi
Assistant Professor

Mai Izumida

Assistant Professor

Takashi Sugimoto
Assistant Professor

Shogo Akabame
Assistant Professor

Masumi Shimizu
Group photo of staff members

Publications
Our official publications are as follows;
1．Bulletin of Nagasaki University

2．INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL MEDICINE

3．Report of Nation-wide Cooperative

Institute of Tropical Medicine

NAGASAKI UNIVERSITY (This copy,

Research Projects (Information on(In Japanese, published yearly

published yearly since 1977; PDF files

research activities and achievementssince

are available at our web page.)as a nation-wide cooperative research

1964;

PDF

files

are

available at our web page.)center for tropical medicine iscompiled.)

Shinchi
Chinatown

Peace Park1

AtomicBomb
Museum2

3

20

for Hotarujaya
Main bus routefor Mogi

SohukujiSuwa Shrine
Civic Center
Suwa-jinja
Shrine-o- bashi
Civic Hall
Chu

Electric Tramway
JR Kyushu

Institute of Tropical
Medicine
University Hospital
School of
Dentistry

School ofMedicine
UrakamiCathedralfor Akasako

Igakubu-mae

Peace Park
Ohashi
Peace Park

Hamaguchimachi
AtomicBomb
MuseumSofukujiTempleShinchi
Chinatown
Ohato

Nagasaki Station

UrakamiStationIshibashi

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/