2022

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 Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine）

01

Towards Overcoming
Tropical Infectious Diseases
The Institute of Tropical Medicine （NEKKEN）, Nagasaki University is the only public
institution in Japan dedicated to research in tropical medicine. The Institute has been
accredited by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology （MEXT）
as a “Joint Usage / Research Center on Tropical Disease” and has contributed to theadvancement and internationalization of tropical medical research in Japan as an instituteopen to the national as well as international research communities. The current organizationconsists of five major divisions （22 research departments）, two affiliated facilities, and adepartment of medicine, with 60 faculty members （including fixed-term and concurrent
post employees）, 54 administrative staff members, and approximately 100 graduate
students. Internationally, the Institute has been designated as a World Health Organization（WHO） Collaborating Center （for the collection and study of samples related to emerging
and tropical viral diseases） since 1993.
In the tropics, there are many low-income countries with harsh natural and social
environments, and they are exposed to serious health problems ranging from emerging
infectious diseases to lifestyle-related diseases, in addition to classical tropical diseases.
With the rapid development of international exchange today, the problems of thesecountries have a serious impact on the high-income countries located in the temperatezone, and as indicated in the Sustainable Development Goals （SDGs） of the United Nations,they are issues that must be solved from a global perspective. To overcome these issues, theInstitute has set the following comprehensive goals.
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 researchers and specialists in the above fields
This pamphlet is intended to introduce the organization and activities of the Institute.
Research in each field （including overseas teaching and research facilities in Kenya andVietnam） covers a wide range of tropical infectious diseases such as malaria, diarrhea,
schistosomiasis, dengue fever, and yellow fever, as well as emerging and re-emerging
infectious diseases such as AIDS, COVID-19, and Ebola virus disease. Research is being
conducted in a wide range of areas, including pathogens, pathophysiology, epidemiology,
clinical and vector animal studies, as well as the natural and social environments in whichthese infectious diseases spread. We also introduce our social contribution activities athome and abroad, graduate education （doctoral and master's programs）, and various
educational and training courses.
We hope that you will understand the goals of the Institute and look forward to yourcontinued support.
Osamu Kaneko
Dean and Professor
NEKKEN
May, 2022

H istory
1942.3

East Asia Institute of Endemics as
Nagasaki Medical College affiliate

1946.4
1949.5

Institute of Endemics, N.M.C
Institute of Endemics, Nagasaki
University, under postwar scheme

1967.6
1967.6

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

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

2003.4

COE program 21st Century Global
Strategy against Tropical & Emerging
Infection

2006.4Tropical Medicine Masterʼs Course

2008.4

Museum and Asia / Africa Facilities

2008.6

COE

programComprehensive

Global Strategy against Tropical &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 institute

Africa. Furthermore, as a resource center for information

supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,and samples that contribute to research on infectious

Science and Technology （MEXT） in Japan that aims todiseases that are prevalent on a global scale, the Center

conduct researches on tropical diseases, and is identified

will organize research meetings and provide researchas the Joint Usage / Research Center on Tropical Disease

support services. Through the above activities, the Center

since June, 2009.

aims to maintain and activate a community of researchers
who create knowledge and skills that contribute to the

1. The Goal of the Center

control of infectious diseases.

symbiosis with other living organisms, which is inevitable

2. Outline of the Centerʼs Activities

Infectious diseases are caused by the collapse offor humans to survive in the natural world. Although theultimate goal of this center is to eliminate infectious

The Center supports basic and applied collaborative

research projects on tropical diseases and the seeds ofdiseases, it is needed rather to establish reciprocal

such researches. It also supports research meetings for

relationships with other organisms than to eliminate them.

the exchange of information on related research and theSuch establishment of reciprocal relationships requires

promotion of collaborative research, as well as training

collective knowledge, which can be achieved only by

sessions for the dissemination of research techniques. The

combining a broad aspect of disciplines.

Center serves as a bio-resource center to acquires, stores,

Tropical infectious diseases such as malaria have beenmajor health problems in tropical and subtropical regions,
which

is

a

reflection

of

the

environmentsocio-economic situation existing there.

and delivers pathogens and their genetic information forresearch and educational purpose.

and

In addition,

emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, such as
newly emerging viral diseases, HIV and tuberculosis are

3. Operational Organization of the Center

As for administration of this research center, the deanof the Institute of Tropical Medicine established thealso expanding globally, mainly in tropical and subtropical

Steering Committee for the Center, which is composed ofregions.

11 members, out of whom more than half are from outsideThe
researchCenterplans

projects

androotedincarriesout

theendemic

collaborative
areas

of

infectious diseases with researchers from various fields,bothdomestic

andinternational,

based

on

the University. The Steering Committee is responsible forthe adoption of the applications, and monitoring andevaluation of the activities of accepted projects.

our

In order to support the above mentioned activities ainternational activities and research infrastructure such as

specific administrative office has been allocated in the

our Center for Infectious Diseases Research in Asia andinstitute.

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），
Akira Nishizono(Oita University)，Yukiko Higa (National Institute of Infectious Diseases), Sohkichi Matsumoto（Niigata University），
Chizuru Misago (Tsuda University), Takayuki Miyazawa（Kyoto University）

03

Accounting (FY2021)
Grant-in-Aid for
Scientiﬁc Research
135,149

Others425,865

Endowment（External Fund）
176,012

Commissioned Project（External Fund）
111,883

Grant-in-Aid for
Scientiﬁc Research
86,147Administrative
cost subsidy
959,037

RevenueCommissioned Research（External Fund）
1,113,797

Endowment
wment
ernal Fund）（External
53
35,253Administrative
cost subsidy
subs
959,037

Commissioned
C
d Project（d）（External
Fund）
444,831（thousand JPY）
Total
3,384,434

Others415,729

Expenditure（thousand JPY）
Total
2,583,842

Non-subsidy income
at Nagasaki University
162,985

Commissione
Commissioneded
Researchd）（External Fund）
644,194

Joint Research（External Fund）
299,703

Non-subsidy incomeinco
at Nagasaki University
Univ
162,985

Joint Research（External Fund）
235,664※Including carry-overExternal Fund (FY2021)

Numberof grants

Amount（in thousands of yen）
1,500,000

150

1,302,583
124

1,200,000
900,000

120
90

811,339

600,000

65,90448

300,000

100,6220

58,923

16

265,793

42
12

30

6

Joint Research with Commissioned Commissioned Endowments
Private Sectors
Research
Project

Facilities & Administrative
costs included

60

Others0

Total

Number of Staff （as of May 1 ,2022）
Professor

Associate
Professor

Senior AssistantProfessor

Assistant
Professor

Sub total

Others

Total

13

8

0

26

47

118

165

Grants-in-aid for Scientiﬁc Research （KAKENHI）（MEXT）（FY2021）

Amount（in thousands of yen）
150,000

85,24736

125,000

25

75,00025,000035
30

100,000

50,000

Numberof Grants
40

16,5102
ScientiﬁcResearch(A)（General)

18,59013
14,4301

ScientiﬁcResearch(B)(General)

1
ScientiﬁcResearch(C)(General)

20
11,2592,600

81Challenging
Research(Exploratory)

Early-Career
Scientists

4,680

10,418
7

5,460
1

1

Scientiﬁc
Fostering Joint
Research on
International
Innovative Areas Research (B)

15
10

1,300

5

1
Research Grant-in-Aid
Activity for JSPs Fellows
Start-up

Total

0

04

Microbiology
and Parasitology

Department of
Virology

Nekken-Virology conducts basic and appliedresearch on arthropod-borne （arbo） viruses;
such as Japanese encephalitis virus, dengue virus,
Zika virus, chikungunya virus, severe fever withthrombocytopenia syndrome （SFTS） virus, andhighly pathogenic viruses; filoviruses and novel
coronaviruses.
Intra-cellular dynamics analyses for highly
pathogenic viruses
High-resolution microscopy （e.g. live cell
imaging） is used to visualize the life cycle ofviruses in infected cells and to elucidate themechanisms of virus particle formation.
Molecular epidemiology of arboviruses
Molecular epidemiological analysis of dengue
virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, chikungunya
virus, novel coronaviruses and other viruses
isolated in Asia and Africa to clarify virus migrationand evolution to reveal viral factors related to themechanism of disease severity and expansion.
Research on therapeutic drugs/vaccines
development using reverse genetics
By using reverse genetics, recombinantviruses are constructed to identify viral factors
regulating viral proliferation in cells and viralpathogenicity in animals are comparatively
analyzed to establish the basis for thedevelopment of new therapeutic agents andvaccines.
Development of rapid diagnostic assay for
infectious diseases
We also aim to contribute to the improvementof public health in Asia and Africa through theconstruction of novel diagnostic methods for viral
infections,
such
as
PCR,
LAMP,
immunochromatography and ELISA.
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.

Professor

Kouichi Morita
Associate Professor

1. Fujita-Fujiharu et al. 1DW&RPPXQ 2022; 13: 1191.
2. Kendra et al. $QWLYLUDO5HV 2021; 192: 1-13.
3. Takamatsu et al. -9LURO 2020; 94(9): 1-19.
4. Takamatsu et al. P%LR 2020; 11(1): 1-17
5. Takamatsu et al. 3URF1DWO$FDG6FL86$ 2018; 115(5): 1-19.

Yuki Takamatsu

Associate Professor（Vietnam Research Station）

Mya Myat Ngwe Tun

Microbiology
and Parasitology

Department ofBacteriology

Professor

Toshio Kodama
Associate Professor

Hirotaka Hiyoshi
Assistant Professor

Hiroyuki Terashima

Our research focuses on the pathogenesis of entericbacterial pathogens, including Vibrio parahaemolyticus,
V ibrio cholerae , and Salmonella enterica spp. T heemergence and spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria are
big problems these days. It is predicted that
drug-resistant bacterial infection will bring about 10
million annual deaths by 2050. We believe that
understanding detailed mechanisms of bacterial
pathogenicity gives us a clue to the development ofeffective vaccines and establishment of new treatment
strategies without antibiotics. We will promote our study
with various approaches , such as global epidemic
surveillances, in vivo animal infection models, and in vitro
molecular biological analyses, and make maximum efforts
to produce talented researchers who can play on a global
stage through study and experience.
● V. parahaemolyticus Pathogenesis
We have worked on V. parahaemolyticus 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（T DH）, is
secreted via T3SS2 in tandem with the Sec machinery,
facilitates the distinct virulence traits. However, detailed
mechanisms of how this pathogen colonizes the hostintestine and induces diarrhea have remained unknown.
We t h e refo re t r y to u n d e r s t a n d a c o m p r e h e n s i vemechanism of V. parahaemolyticus infection by generatinga new animal infection model, dissecting the expressionm e c h a n i s m o f T 3 S S2- re l a te d g e n e s , d e t e r m i n i n gbiological activities of T3SS2 effectors, analyzing theinteraction of microbiota, and other multidimensional
approaches.
● Endemic Stains of Vibrio spp.
We are planning to isolate Vibrio spp. including V.
parahaemolyticus and V. cholerae 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.
● Salmonella Pathogenesis
We are interested in Salmonella pathogenesis. A big
goal in this project is to understand how S. enterica spp.
cause systemic infection in human for developing more
effective vaccines and therapies without relying on
antibiotics. Type III Secretion System（T3SS）coded on
Salmonella 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 S. enterica 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 in vivo
mouse infection models , in vitro biological assays,
epidemic surveillance, and in silico genetic comparisonsamong different S. enterica serovars（i.e., Typhimurium,
Typhi, and Paratyphi A）.
1. Hiyoshi et al. &HOO+RVW0LFUREH 2022; 30(2): 163-170.
2. Nishikino et al. -%LRFKHP 2022; 171(4): 443-450.
3. Terashima et al. 6FL5HS 2022; 12(1): 2979.
4. Al Kadi et al. P6\VWHPV 2021; 6(6): e0099621.
5. Prithvisagar et al. 9LUXOHQFH 2021; 12(1): 1936-1949.

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
Ebola virus（EBOV）and Epstein - Barr virus（EBV）b ot h cause major infe ctious disease s inhumans , such as Ebola virus disease（EVD）and
EBV-associate d malignancies, respectively. The
long-term goal of our study is to provide insights into
the molecular mechanisms of their pathogenesis,
which shall lead to the development of rational
therapies and diagnosis for them.

Professor and HeadJiro Yasuda
Professor

Asuka Nanbo
Professor

1.Characterization of molecular mechanisms of
EBOV entry and virus particle formation: toward
the development of novel therapeutics for EVD
EBOV, a member of the family Filoviridae, is anenveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA
virus that causes severe hemorrhagic fever with ahigh mortality rate, known as EVD, in humans andn o n h u m a n p r i m a t e s . C u r re n t l y, o n l y a few
therapeutics has been approved for treatment andprevention of EVD. Because of the likelihood of
future outbreaks and generation of mutant viruses,
the development of a variety of EBOV therapeutics isurgent . Our goal is to elucidate the mechanism
underlying virus entry and viral particle formation
processes with a focus on host membrane trafficd y n a m i c s a n d v i r a l e nve l o p eʼs co n s t i t u e n t
phospholipids. We are also developing thetherapeutics that specifically target the entry andviral particle formation process in multiple ways,
which should lead to the significant contribution forprevention of EVD in the future.
2.Characterization of molecular mechanism ofdevelopment of EBV-associated epithelium tumors

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 those newly identified
in Gabon, and 3) to develop
rapid diagnostic methods
for viral diseases of publichealth concern and those
newly identified.
1. Abe et al. /DQFHW0LFUREH; in press.
2. Moni et al. 9LUXVHV 2022; 545: 14(1): 142.
3. Kinoshita et al. 6FL5HS 2021; 11(11): 21259.
4. Wilkinson et al. 6FLHQFH 2021; 374(6566): 423-431.
5. Zoa-Assoumou et al. /DQFHW0LFUREH 2021; 2(8): e349.

E B V, a u b i q u i t o u s h u m a n γ- h e r p e s v i r u s ,establishes a persistent latent infection in B
lymphocytes and epithelial cells in more than 90% of
adults worldwide. Although this virus contributes
causally to lymphomas and epithelial malignancies
such as Burkittʼs lymphoma, gastric carcinoma, andnasopharyngeal carcinoma, the molecularm e c h a n i s m by wh i c h E BV c a u s e t h e s e t u m o r s
r e m a i n s f u l l y e l u c i d a t e d . To u p d a t e t h eunderstanding of the mechanisms for developmentof EBV- associa ted epithelial tumors , we are
elucidating the physiological significance of
exo s o m e s , o n e t y p e o f ex t r a c e l l u l a r ve s i c l e s ,released from EBV- infected cells in tumor
development. Moreover, we try to identify host andviral factors including microRNAs that are
specifically and abundantly incorporated in
exosomes , which shalllead to the developmentof potential biomarkers
for EBV-associate dtumors that contributeto the diagnosis of thesetumors.

1. Dochi et al. &DQFHU6FL, in press.
2. Nanbo et al. )URQW0LFURELRO 2021; 12: 679210.
3. Becnel et al. 9LUXVHV 2021; 13(5): 877.
4. Avilala et al. )URQW0LFURELRO 2021; 12: 657036.
5. Nanbo, 0LFURRUJDQLVP 2020; 8: 729.

Kentaro Yoshii
Associate Professor

Shuzo Urata

Associate Professor

Yohei Kurosaki
Assistant Professor

Haruka Abe

Assistant Professor

Takaaki Kinoshita
Assistant Professor

Yuri Ushijima
Assistant Professor

Yasuteru Sakurai
Assistant Professor

Wakako Furuyama
Assistant Professor

Misako Yajima
Assistant Professor

Rokusuke Yoshikawa

Flavivirus and Or thonairovirus include
important pathogens which cause severe disease in
human and animals, and many of them aretransmitted by ar thropod vectors in nature. We
conduct research on the ecology of these viruses inhosts and environment to control infectious diseasecaused by these viruses.
・Research on mechanisms of virus infection andadaptation in hosts
Arthropod-borne viruses are maintained in thetransmission cycle between arthropod（ticks andmosquitos）and vertebrate（mammals and birds）
crossing species barrier. Although Each host hasvarious anti-viral mechanisms, the viruses evolved toreplicate in their hosts by adaptation to evade themechanisms. We have studied the virus replication
and adaptation mechanisms in terms of virus-hostinteractions.
・Research on virus epidemiology and development
of diagnostics
High-containment biological laboratories are
required to handle highly pathogenic viruses, such as

tick-borne encephalitis virus, West Nile virus andCrimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. It causes
difficulties for the research institute to conduct
research on these viruses. We have developed safe
substitute such as virus-like particle system for live
viruses by molecular technology and applied them to
new and safe diagnostics. By using thesed i a g n o s t i c s , we h a v e
constructed frameworks
and have conducteds u r veys to rev e a l t h evirus epidemiology
inside and outside
Japan.

1. Hirano et al. $QWLYLUDO5HV 2022; 200: 105276.
2. Takahashi et al. 7LFNV7LFN%RUQH'LV 2022; 13: 101900.
3. Kodama et al. 1DW&RPPXQ 2022; 12: 5539.
4. Maezono et al. 6FL5HS 2022; 11: 9213.
5. Haviernik et al. $QWLYLUDO5HV 2021; 185: 104968.

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（RBC）invasion an d t he p h e n o m e n o n of

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

Taeko Naruse

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

Minami Baba
Assistant Professor

Nattawat Chaiyawong

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 parasites infect humans for long
periods without killing them, giving rise totremendous af flictions and social andeconomic loss. We will develop deep insight
into parasitic diseases and the surrounding
factors from various points of view throughfield and laboratory studies. Our goal is tocontribute to new knowledge and provide avibrant environment for the training of the
future generation of investigators.
We have b e e n researching parasiticd i s e a s e s i n M b i t a a n d Kw a l e , K e n y a ,cooperating 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 of the MEXT
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research（A）. We
also tr y to develop ideal monitoring anddiagnostic methods for schistosomiasis andleishmaniasis with the Global Health Innovative

1. Nugraheni et al. 6FL5HS 2022; 12: 5747.
2. Yahata et al. 3URF1DWO$FDG6FL86$ 2021; 118: e2114442118.
3. Chaiyawong et al. 3DUDVLWRO,QW 2021; 86: 102479.
4. Moraes Barros et al. 0DODU- 2021; 20(1): 247.
5. Miyazaki et al. 3DUDVLWRO,QW 2021; 83: 102358.

Technolog y Fund（GHIT）suppor t . In thelaboratory, we maintain :JOPZ[VZVTHTHUZVUP, its
intermediate host snails, )Y\NPHTHSH`P)WHOHUNP
and (LKLZHLN`W[P
We have studied host defense mechanisms
against 3LPZOTHUPHZWW and ;Y`WHUVZVTHJY\aP
and, in the process, elucidated the function of
the IL-12 cytokine family, such as IL-27/WSX-1,
during the infections. Furthermore, we haved eve l o p e d l i ve a t te n u a t e d va c c i n e s fo rleishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis by editing
genes using the CRISPR- Cas9 system. In
addition, we have developed animal models ofintestinal amoebiasis and devoted ourselves tostudying the molecular basis of thepathogenicity of ,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; 83: 102346.
2. Talaam et al. $QWLPLFURE$JHQWV&KHPRWKHU 2021; AAC0041821.
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

Professor

Kenji Hirayama

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（SATREPS）
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 （KAKENHI）.

1. Hung et al. ,QW-,QIHFW'LV 2022; 120: 217-227.
2. Mohammed et al. 3/R61HJO7URS'LV 2022; 16(3): e0010309.
3. Mizoguchi et al. $/7(; 2022; doi: 10.14573/altex.2111181.
4. Thach et al. 3/R61HJO7URS'LV 2022; 16(1): e0010164.
5. Ngwe Tun et al. -1DW0HG 2022; 76(2): 402-409.

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 Ascaris suum, parasitic protozoa（Pl a s m o d i um fa l c i p a r u m , Tr y panosoma
brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, Cryptosporidiume t c . ）. I n a d d i t i o n , b y u s i n g r e s e a r c hinformation obtained from these studies,
we are trying to develop a new strategy
such as 5-aminolevulinic acid to combat
against other pathogens including
SARS-CoV-2.

Professor

Kiyoshi Kita

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

1. Ngwe Tun et al. 7URS0HG+HDOWK 2022; 50: 6.
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. Enkai et al. (XU-&OLQ0LFURELRO,QIHFW'LV 2021; 749153.

08Public andEnvironmental Health

Department of
Eco-epidemiology

Professor

Satoshi Kaneko
Assistant Professor

Kentaro Kato

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 tropicaldiseases （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 are ongoing.
3）Research contributing to public health measuresfor healthy growth of children in Africa
Epidemiological studies on stunting （shortheight compared to the norm for age in months） arebeing developed in rural Kenya. In addition, we areconstructing a birth cohort on child developmentfrom pregnancy to birth and beyond, obtaining
information on child care and feeding activities and on
the environment to elucidate the epidemiologicalbasis for determining 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. Hyuga et al. 7UDYHO0HG,QIHFW'LV 2022; 7: 2.
2. Yoneoka et al. /DQFHW5HJ+HDOWK:HVW3DF 2022; 18: 100330.
3. Hashizume et al. 3/R61HJO7URS'LV 2022; 16: e0010274.
4. Larson et al. 7URS0HG+HDOWK 2021; 49: 54.
5. Kato et al. 0ROHFXOHV 2021; 26: 5504.

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

units; 1) research on infectious diseases inpursue the ways of analysis by various

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,of microorganisms from the adaptation or

detection of trace DNA, genomics based

Professor

Our research was composed of fouron infectious diseases. We would like tofitness 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.

Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor

sustainable development. It is ourHiroaki Arima
1. Ito et al. 7KHRU%LRO0HGLFDO0RGHO 2022; 18: 18.
2. Sabin et al. 0DODU- 2022; 20: 389.
3. Kunna et al. $FWD0HG2ND\DPD 2021; 75(4): 487-493.
4. Arima et al. 7URS0HG+HDOWK 2022; 49: 2.
5. Takahashi et al. 3V\FKLDWU\5HV 2021; 295: 113565.

09Department of International Health Development and Policy (former Department ofSocial Environment) was re-established in 2018 by inviting three concurrent professors

Public andEnvironmental Health

Department of International Health
Development and Policy

from the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health (TMGH). The three professors
have expertise of health system strengthening (H. Aiga), child health and emergency
assistance ( Y. Kamiya), and human ecology and ecohealth (K. Moji). The department
promotes policy researches in various global health fields for making critical evaluationand constructive proposal for health policy.

Implementation Science in Healthand Disability
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 ofTraining for Community Health Workers in Honduras

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 r
Professor

Yasuhiko Kamiya
Professor

Hirotsugu Aiga

maternal 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 tostrengthen health systems and governancebased on bottom-up problem-solving.

1. Kamiya. 3HGLDWU,QW 2021; 63: 1277-1281.
2. Theingi et al. 7URS0HG,QW+HDOWK 2021; 26: 1117-1126.
3. Mananggit et al. 3/R617'V 2021; 15(12): e0009891
4. Yamada et al. 0LFURELRODQG,PPXQRO 2021; 65: 438‒448.
5. Mananggit et al. 7URS0HG+HDOWK 2021; 49(1): 49-59.

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

An experienced nurse managing a rural health center in Brundi

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.

1. Kawakatsu et al. 3ULP+HDOWK&DUH5HV'HY. 2022; 23: e 20..
2. Horii et al. 3/R62QH. 2021; 16(7): e0254238.
3. Aiga et al. %0-1XWU3UHY+HDOWK. 2021; 4(1) 18-29.
4. Aiga et al. %0-1XWU3UHY+HDOWK. 2020; 3(2): 320-338.
5. Aiga, /DQFHW. 2020; 395(10217): 27.

10

Public andEnvironmental Health

Department of Vector
Ecology and Environment

Our research interests include( L K L ZH S I V W P J [ \ Z p o p u l a t i o n t h a t w a s

any thing from ecology to molecular

introduced in Mozambique in the recent

biology of medically important arthropods,

years. This study will reveal its origin andpar ticularly mosquitoes that transmit

introduction pathway.

pathogens such as malaria parasites andFo r re d u c i ng ma l a r ia r i s k , we a redengue virus in Africa and Asia. We are

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

also interested in their relationships with

insecticides and tools in Kenya and Malawi.

environmental variables and development

We are also developing malaria parasite

of environmentally friendly vector controlt r a n s m i s s i o n m o d e l s a n d C O V I D -19

tools.

transmission models.

C u r r e n t l y, w e a r e a n a l y z i n g t h epopulation genetic structures of (LKLZHLN`W[P in Africa. This study has alreadyrevealed that the genetic structures ofmosquito populations in dengue fever
endemic areas are distinct. We are also
Professor

working on the genetic structure of theNoboru Minakawa
Assistant Professor

Toshihiko Sunahara
Assistant Professor

Kyoko Futami
1. Huynh et al. 3/R61HJO7URS'LV 2022; 16(1): e0010119.
2. Kawada et al. -SQ-(QYLURQ(QWRPRO=RRO 2021; 32(3): 99-103.
3. Yang et al. 3/R61HJO7URS'LV 2021; 15(10): e0009827.
4. Kawada et al. -SQ-,QIHFW'LV 2021; doi: 10.7883/yoken.JJID.2021.584.
5. Minakawa et al. $P-7URS0HG+\J 2021; 105(2): 461-471.

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 to 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（SanLazaro 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

Momoko Yamauchi

11

Bed-side clinical training course in San Lazaro Hospital

1. Saito et al. &OLQ,QIHFW'LV 2021; 72: 61-68.
2. Mukadi et al. 3/R61HJO7URS'LV 2021; 15: e0009670.
3. Domai et al. /DQFHW5HJ+HDOWK:HVW3DF 2021; 19: 100334.
4. Yanagisawa et al. 3/R621( 2020; 15: e0242438.
5. Katoh et al. 3/R61HJO7URS'LV 2019; 13: e0007928.

Clinical Medicine andResearch

Department of Respiratory
Infections

We conduct epidemiological studies ofthe elderly are being conducted among

infectious diseases caused by respiratorycommunity dwelling older people andpathogens including novel coronaviruses

residents of long-term care facilities. We（COVID-19）, mainly in Japan.

are also developing updated suitable
multi-plex PCR for carriage study of● We conducted a clinical epidemiologicalstudy of adult pneumococcal pneumonia
in 27 commuinty hospitals in Japan. The

Professor

Kosuke Morimoto
Associate Professor

Bhim Gopal Dhoubhadel
Project Researcher

Haruka Maeda

elderly patients with low bacterial loadand carriage rates.
● We have conducted mainly two types of

purpose of this study is to determine thes t u d y o n t h e C O V I D -19 . F i r s t ,serotype distribution of pneumococcal

epidemiological characteristics werepneumonia and epidemiologicalclarified through cluster analysis, and acharacteristics of each serotype, and tocluster analysis of nursing homes for therecommend vaccine policies ofolder p e o p la in Nagasaki Ci t y was

pneumococcal vaccine for older people.

conducted. Regarding theCOVID -19

Using the latest serotype distribution

vaccines, we have been investigating theobtained from pneumococcal

vaccine effectiveness in preventing

pneumonia sur veillance, we are

symptomatic disease since July 2021,

conducting a cost-effectiveness analysis

and have reported the results of theof pneumococcal vaccines in the older

analyses four times, providing them aspeople in collaboration with Yokohama

refe rence dat a for t he Ministr y ofCity University. We are also conducting a

Health, Labour and Welfare.

study to evaluate quality of life andburden of care, which is one of theissues in the study of cost-effectivenessof vaccines for older people.
●

Studies of upper respirator y tract

1. Sando et al. -7UDYHO0HG2021; 28: taaa163.
2. Maeda et al. (PHUJLQIHFW'LV 2021; 27: 2251-2260.
3. Sando et al. $QQ$P7KRUDF6RF 2021; 18: 1475-1481.

carriage of :[YLW[VJVJJ\ZWUL\TVUPHL in

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 globallyand became 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.
The current research topics,

Professor

Lay-Myint Yoshida
Associate Professor

Michiko Toizumi
Assistant Professor

Shah Mohammad Monir
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. Kitamura et al. ,QW-,QIHFW'LV 2022; 116: 273-280.
2. Althouse et al. 6FL5HS 2021; 11(1): 5163.
3. Mohamed et al. 6FL5HS 2021; 11(1): 337.
4. Wang et al. /DQFHW*ORE+HDOWK 2021; 9(8): e1077-1087.
5. Satoh et al. 9DFFLQH 2021; 39(19): 2613-2619.

12

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

S h i o n o g i P re s s Re l e a s e , Fe b28 , 2019,2019 S h i o n o g i e n t e rs iinto
n toComprehensive Cooperation Agreement in the Field of Infectious
Disease Focused on Malaria with Nagasaki Universityand 4 departments, Cellular Architecture Studies,
Molecular Infection Dynamics, Immune Regulationand Exploratory Research for Drug Discovery.

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 rCo., 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 ofclassica l b i o c h e m i s tr y/cellula r b i o l o g y andCellular Architecture Studies, Molecular Infection

biophysical approaches . High - resolution

Dynamics, Immune Regulation, and Exploratory

i 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,

Research for Drug Discovery. We share samehigh-throughput screening for inhibitor

laboratory space and team up for our mission tocompounds have been actively used to achievefind new drug and vaccine candidates by taking

our goal. We share our data and collaborate

advantages of expertise from each department.

wit h other three laboratories for advanced

This is the unique but powerful collaboration thatexperiments for for tif ying our scientificexpands 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 to13

1. Iso-o et al. )URQW&HOO'HY%LRO 2021; 9: 749153.
2. Tokumasu et al. 3DUDVLWRO,QW 2021; 83: 102369.
3. Tanaka et al. %LRO2SHQ 2019; 8: bio042259.
4. Shindou et al. -%LRO&KHP 2017; 292: 12054-12064.
5. Tokumasu et al. %LRO2SHQ 2014; 3(6): 529‒541.

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

Department of Molecular
Infection Dynamics

Exploratory Research for Drug Discovery aim to/LSPJVIHJ[LYW`SVYP.

We also conduct research on cancer.

Intestinal 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 andOur scope is the human immune response
against malaria, and malaria vaccine development.

Shionogi Global
Infectious Diseases

Department of
Immune Regulation

1. Komatsuya et al. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15(7): 903.
2. Acharjee et al. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22(15): 7830.
3. Talaam et al. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65(10): e0041821.
4. Villafraz et al. mBio 2021; 12(3): e0037521.
5. Nurkanto et al. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11: 639065.

into vaccine development to against Plasmodium
falciparum, 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 untavorable
side effects are available, and thus, vaccine andnovel antimalarial drug 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

1. Mizoguchi et al. $/7(; 2022 doi: 10.14573/altex.2111181.
2. Raini et al. $QWLYLUDO5HV 2022; 199: 105245.
3. Ngwe et al. -1DW0HG 2022; 76(2): 402-409.
4. Hashim et al. -1DW0HG 2022; 76(1): 281-290.
5. Hashim et al. -1DW0HG 2021; 75(4): 915-925.

14

Malaria is one of the three largest infectious

Shionogi Global
Infectious Diseases

Department of Exploratory
Research for Drug Discovery■ 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:■ P ro m o t i o n of d r u g d iscove 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 clinical

1. Unoh et al. -0HG&KHP 2022, 65, 6499-6512.

development and identifying new targets

Associated Facility
Center for Infectious Disease Research in Asia and Africa

Kenya Research
StationProfessor

Satoshi Kaneko

Nagasaki 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 IoT

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.
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.

(Chief Representative)
Professor

Shingo Inoue
Associate Professor

Raita Tamaki
Assistant Professor

Takeshi Nabeshima

15

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.

Associated Facility
Center for Infectious Disease Research in Asia and Africa

Vietnam Research
StationChief Representative, Professor

Futoshi Hasebe
Assistant Professor

Taichiro Takemura

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
30 staff from NU and a further 36 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 related to COVID-19,
flavivirus and HIV were conducted as research for utilizing
the Vietnam Research Station collaboration with the National
Institute of Infectious Diseases, Osaka University, Kyoto
University, Hokkaido University, Tokai University, andKumamoto University. 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 alsoutilized as an on -the -job -training facility for otherresearchers from NU and other universities. The Vietnam
project has been conducting research that contributes toprevention, diagnosis and treatment for the control of
infectious diseases such as dengue fever, influenza and
COVID-19 for many years, and also training of humanresources in Vietnam. As a result of this, August 20, 2021,
the project was awarded the group category of the Foreign
Ministerʼs Commendations for FY 2021 in Japan.

Bat survey in Lang Son province. (2020.11.19)

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

Associated Facility

Tropical Medicine
Museum

The museum exhibits and preserves a wide range ofitems, including overview panels on tropical diseases,
specimens of parasites, bacteria, viruses, pathogenic insects
and dangerous animals, visual materials, books and othervaluable documents from the history of medicine. In theaudiovisual section, visitors can watch videos of mosquitoes
sucking blood and a variety of other genres on an 80-inch
large screen. A new section has also been set up where visitors
can classify mosquitoes and separate male and femalemosquitoes, with the aim of increasing interest in andunderstanding of tropical infectious diseases among many
people.
In FY2021, the number of visitors to the museum
remained considerably lower（about 600, about half of the
pre-coronavirus number）, affected by the outbreak of newcoronavirus infection（COVID-19）,as in the previous year. The
museum's main activities under these circumstances were as
follows.
●Museum management: approximately 100 overview panels
on diseases that frequently occur in the tropics, microscopic
images, pathological films, specimens and models of pathogen
vectors, a model of a high-safety laboratory（BSL-4）facility
and BSL-4 protective clothing are displayed and explained todomestic and international visitors. Languages available are
Japanese, English and Chinese.

Professor

Taro Yamamoto
Technologist

Kazuo Araki

In addition to the regular museum operations, thefollowing activities were also undertaken.
1）From the perspective of infection control measures

1. Fukuta et al. ,QW-(QYLURQ5HV3XEOLF+HDOWK 2021; 18(18): 9845.
2. Mao et al. 3DWKRJHQV 2021; 10(12): 1558.
3. Ngo et al. 7URS0HG+HDOWK 2021; 49(1): 42.
4. Yasuda et al. 9LUXVHV 2021; 13(4): 665.
5. Morales Vargas et al. ,QIHFW*HQHW(YRO 2021; 90: 104764.

against COVID-19, an online seminar mainly for junior andsenior high school students was organised as “Nekken
Summer School 2021”, instead of the conventional Nekken
Summer School for visitors, as in the previous year. The
theme was 'Fighting against various infectious diseases'
and four young researchers gave presentations. The
seminar was well received by the more than 100
participants and the speakers facilitated a smooth Q&A
session.
2）The Japan-Korea joint project 'Japan-Korea collaborationon the control of lymphatic filariasis' was organised incollaboration with the Meguro Parasite Museum and theParasite Museum in Seoul, South Korea, at the invitation of
the Archives of Infectious Diseases（AIDH）.The museum
exhibited photos and documents related to the control offilariasis in Nagasaki during 17-31 August. A new main
panel on the history of filariasis control in Japan andSouth Korea was also established and made available
online during the period, together with a video explaining
filariasis. These exhibited materials and the main panel willcontinue to be on permanent display after the exhibition isover.
● IT（Information Technology）the IT environment is enhancedwith the updating of servers and network equipment, andefforts are made to maintain a high level of security. At thesame time, maintenance and management of the Institute's
website, including updating of information, is carried out.
In addition, the Institute is working to improve the environment,
including a system for lending IT equipment to meet thediverse needs of researchers and others at the Institute ofTropical Medicine.

1. Kounnavong et al. ,QW+HDOWK 2021; 14(3): 319-328.
2. Okumura et al. 7URS0HG+HDOWK 2021; 49: 38.
3. Canara et al. %0&3XEOLF+HDOWK 2020; 20(1): e1298.
4. Okumura et al. -,QW+HDOWK 2019; 34(1): 35-43.
5. Delamou et al. /DQFHW*ORE+HDOWK 2017; 5(4): e448-e457.

16Central Laboratory in NEKKEN maintains

Associated Facility

Central ResearchLaboratory

clinical research on the imaging features ofstate - of-the - ar t machines and helps all theinfectious disease. We operate Nikon Infectious

researchers in this institute facilitating their

Disease Imaging Core laboratory established inprojects. This Laboratory is also approved by the

April 2015. The laboratory has equipped laser

Minister of Education in Japan as Joint

scanning confocal/fluorescence microscope

Usage/Research Center for Tropical Medicine and（NIKON）, Imaging Flow Cytometer（Luminex）,

is open for the researchers who proceed thel 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
microscope（ZEISS）, and a Virtual Slide Scannercollaborative project with NEKKEN.

（Nanozoomer 2.0-RS, Hamamatsu Photonics）.
○Molecular & Cellular Biology Unit
At the Molecular & Cellular Biology Unit in

Head and Professor

Fumika Mi-ichi

Assistant Professor

Miako Sakaguchi

Electron Microscope Unit suppor ts

state-of-the-art research equipment is provided

ultrastructural characterization of microbial

including 8 and 16 Capillary DNA sequencers,

pathogens and the structural chang e of theHigh-throughput sequencers, Real time PCR

pathogen-infected cells. This unit offers highsystems , Flow cy tometers , Multiplex as say

q 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 t

systems, Chemiluminescence imaging systems,

techniques such as conventional andand Multimode plate readers. Additionally, as

immuno-electron microscopy, and also provides

the commonly used research equipment, MilliQ

sample preparation for EM observation. Thissystem , Ultracentrifuge machines, Vacuum

u 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 dConcentrators, Freeze dryers, Darkroom, andS c a n n i n g E l e c t r o n M i c r o s c o p e s （ J E O L ）,L aborator y cold room are also provided.

U l t r a - M i c ro t o m e s（L EICA a n d R E I C H E R T ）,Molecular & Cellular Biology Unit members（asvacuum coater, Hydrophilic Treatment Device,of April 1, 2022, Fumika Mi-ichi and Akemi Ura）

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

are in charge of maintaining these research

general laboratory facilities for a wide range

facilities.

application of electron microscopy.

○Light Microscope Unit
L ight Microscope Unit provides optical
instruments to perform basic, translational, andAssociated Facility

NEKKEN Bio-Resource
CenterProject Representative, Professor

Fumika Mi-ichi

Service Manager, Assistant Professor

Makoto Kazama

1. Hiyoshi et al. &HOO+RVW0LFUREH 2022; 30(2): 163-170.
2. Mi-ichi et al. 0LFURELRO6SHFWU 2021; 9(1): e0051121.
3. Hakimi et al. 3/R63DWKRJ 2020; 16(10): e1008917.
4. Mousa et al. 3DUDVLWRO 2020; 147(12): 1305-1312.
5. Zadeh et al. -*HQ9LURO 2020; 101(6): 573-586

NEKKEN Bio-Resource Center （NEKKEN

in Japan, including NEKKEN BRC, with their

BRC） was established in 2015 to take charge

owner and strain information （2） acceptanceof National BioResource Project （NBRP）

of pathogenic protozoa and their geneticallymission in Institute of Tropical Medicine

modified organisms for deposit, （3） preservation（NEKKEN）. NBRP constructs the frameworkof protozoan strains, （4） distribution of a variety

for systematic collection, preservation, andof protozoan strains, and （5） distribution of theirdistribution of bio-resources with a focus on

microscopic specimensforeducationinthose that required strategic development by

academic organizations. To facilitate thethe National Government. To promote life

collection, preservation, and provision ofsciences it is important for researchers tobio-resources, NEKKEN BRC also implements

share the various bio-resources necessary

the development of related technologies.

for pursuing researches and developments.

Approximately 900 strains of pathogenic

NEKKEN has participated to NBRP services

protozoa are preserved in NEKKEN BRC, andsince 2002 when it was initiated by theapproximately half of them are available to

Ministry

Sports,supply. Last year NEKKEN BRC provided 29

Science and Technology （MEXT）. NBRP has

protozoan strains to researchers. NEKKEN

of

Education,

Culture,been maintained by Japan Agency for Medical

BRC is currently preparing deposit and supply

Research and Development （AMED） duringof genetically modified protozoan parasites.

2015-2020 and by MEXT from 2021 again.

Your cooperation and support to the project

We have been serving as Division of Protozoa

would be highly appreciated. Pathogenic

in “Pathogenic Eukaryotic Microorganisms ofprotozoan resources available from NEKKEN

a Core Facility Upgrading Program” under

BRC are listed in the following website.

MedicalMycology

ResearchCenter（MMRC）, Chiba University.

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

NEKKEN BRC supports the research andeducationonpathogenic

protozoa

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

17○Electron Microscope Unit

Central Laboratory in NEKKEN, theE-mail: protozoa@tm.nagasaki-u.ac.jp

The Neglected Tropical Diseases Innovation

Associated Facility

Neglected Tropical Diseases
Innovation Center（NTDi Center）

Center （NTDi Center） was established within
the Institute of Tropical Medicine in 2016 to
stimulate research and development in tropical
medicine, including neglected tropical diseases（NTDs）, utilize the research resources of theInstitute, promote collaboration between industry,
government, and the private sector, and build
domestic and international networks. So far, theinstitute has supported the acquisition of sizeable
external research funds and managed the Japan
Allianceon

GlobalNTDs（JAGntd）

project（established in 2018）, a domestic network
related to NTDs. The Center has also added thefunctionofthesecretariat

for

the

NTD

Subcommittee （to be launched in 2022） of the
Nikkei-FT Communicable Diseases Conference,
which brings together all stakeholders in theindustry, government, and academia, including
administrative

agencies,organizations,andacademic societies related to infectious disease
control from Japan and abroad.

※

JAGntdisorganizations,a

networkcompanies,that

connects

andindividuals

involved with NTDs in Japan and abroad topromote their participation in Japan's efforts
tocontrol

Neglected

Tropical

Diseases（NTDs） and to exchange information withProfessor（Director）

Satoshi Kaneko

each other. The secretariat is located at the

Tsuyoshi Kihara

University.

Institute

Professor（Deputy Director）

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.

ofTropicalMedicine,

Nagasaki

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 2010,18

Associated FacilityOﬃce for Training
and Education

The main role of our office is to run ahave completed the course. The course is run by theshort-course of tropical medicine, Training Course ofsteering committee, which consists of members from

Tropical Medicine（TTM）. This course aims to support

both inside and outside the Institu te of Tropical

medical and co-medical personnel who plan to work in

Medicine（NEKKEN）.

the tropical countries, by providing opportunities toDuring the thirteen weeks（April to June）, thelearn a broad range of skills and knowledge relevant tofull-time staff members of NEKKEN and a substantial

practicing medicine, implementing disease control

number of visiting professors and lecturers provide

programs and conducting medical research in tropicallectures, laboratory practical and field work, in theand developing countries. The course began in 1978f 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,

and since 2016, it opens to the researchers who pursue

p 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,technology for global health. Over 15 participants are

immunogenetics, epidemiology, human ecology, social

accepted to attend the course in each year. As of the

medicine, clinical medicine and also geography and44th course in 2021, 583 participants in total（including

culture in tropics. Par ticipants who successfully

207 medical doctors, and 376 co-medical such ascompleted the course are awarded the Diploma invete rinarian, nu r s e s , communi t y healt h nurses ,Tropical Medicine.

midwives, pharmacists and others）from all over Japan

Head and Professor

Koya Ariyoshi

Assistant Professor

Momoko Yamauchi

Completion ceremony in 2021

The University Hospital
Infectious Disease Ward

Professor

Koya Ariyoshi
Professor

Chris Smith
Professor

Konosuke Morimoto
Professor

Akitsugu FurumotoLecturer

Hirotomo Yamanashi

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 general internal medicine ward（16b e d s）a n d T B wa rd（6 b e d s）, cl o s e l ycollaborating 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,

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

19

referred by almost all the otherdepartments, suspected with infectious
diseases. We also run a travel clinic forinternational travelers.
We take a major role 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
volunteer or a clinical researcher. We
regularly organize a clinical caseconference in English Staff and resident
doctors are often dispatched to hospitals
in the tropics of Asia and Africa. That helps
us to accumulat e o u r k n owl e d g e a n dexperience with clinical tropical medicine.

Publications
Our official publications are as follows;

1．Bulletin of Nagasaki University Institute of Tropical
Medicine (In Japanese, published yearly since 1964; PDF
files are available at our web page.)

1

2．INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL MEDICINE NAGASAKI UNIVERSITY
平和公園

原爆
資料館

(This copy, published yearly since 1977; PDF files areavailable at our web page.)

令和２年

2

3．Report of Research activities and achievements as the
Joint Usage / Research Center on Tropical Disease (PDF
files are available at our web page.)

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/