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Special Feature: Research on Tropical Diseases at Gunma University
Special Feature: Research on Tropical Diseases at Gunma University
Professor
Junko Shimada
Department of Laboratory Sciences,
Graduate School of Health Sciences
Finding New Life Phenomena and Their Applications to the Treatment of Tropical Diseases
Finding New Life Phenomena and Their Applications to the Treatment of Tropical Diseases
Some cells die by a genetically determined mechanism. It is called apoptosis. It's a mechanism for keeping individuals in better shape. However, trypanosomes, parasites that cause tropical diseases such as Chagas disease, have a strategy to suppress host apoptosis and survive. Professor Shimada has clarified this fact and studied the factors and inhibition mechanism. She is also working on researching and developing treatments for Chagas disease.
International exchange with El Salvador
Analysis of the Interaction Between Intestinal Bacteria and Malaria
Analysis of the Interaction Between Intestinal Bacteria and Malaria
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a parasitic protozoan called Plasmodium, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, and it is one of the three major infectious diseases alongside AIDS and tuberculosis. Professor Hisaeda is researching the interaction between the malaria parasite and the infected host, particularly focusing on the immune response. He was the first to report that mice infected with the malaria parasite exhibit significant changes in their gut microbiota, leading to an imbalance in the gut bacterial composition. His findings have paved the way for developing new prevention and treatment strategies for malaria. Collaborating with researchers from Gulu University in Uganda, he is investigating the impact of gut microbiota on the pathogenesis of malaria, with a focus on malaria patients.
Professor
Hajime Hisaeda
Department of International Parasitology, Graduate School of Medicine
Joint Research in Gulu, Uganda
Vaccines that Replicate the Immune Environment of Endemic Areas
Vaccines that Replicate the Immune Environment of Endemic Areas
Malaria, even if antibodies are produced through a single infection, gradually leads to a decline in immunity, making it impossible to prevent subsequent infections completely. However, in endemic areas, many residents maintain their immunity by constantly being exposed to malaria. Therefore, associate Professor Oku speculated that if the vaccine antigen could be released gradually into the body, it might be possible to maintain an immune state for an extended period. This concept became the starting point for his vaccine research and development.
Associate Professor
Hiroyuki Oku
Division of Molecular Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology
History of Research: Became One of the Leading Research Centers in Japan during the 1980s to 1990s
History of Research: Became One of the Leading Research Centers in Japan during the 1980s to 1990s
The current Department of International Parasitology in the Graduate School of Medicine at Gunma University started by establishing the Parasitology Course from the Department of Hygiene in 1966. In 1976, Professor Mamoru Suzuki (currently an honorary professor) assumed the position.
During the mid-1960s to the 1970s, there was a belief among major countries that "infectious diseases could be eradicated shortly." However, the threat of infectious diseases, including tropical diseases, persisted, and the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the importance of tropical disease control in the late 1970s. It was during this time that Professor Mamoru Suzuki joined Gunma University. Since then, he has been at the forefront of tropical disease research at the university until he assumed the position of university president at the end of 2003, establishing it as one of the leading research centers in Japan. Gunma University consistently ranks among the top institutions regarding the number of research projects funded by the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research in Parasitology.
Professor Mamoru Suzuki is a malaria researcher leading tropical disease research at Gunma University for 27 years. He served as the Dean of the School of Medicine and Vice President of Gunma University before becoming the university president from December 2003 to March 2009. In addition, Professor Suzuki has held positions such as President of the World Federation of Parasitologists and Chairman of the Japanese Society of Parasitology, making significant contributions to tropical disease research and international medical cooperation worldwide.
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