In recent years, infectious diseases have become a very real concern for us all. However, most people don't know that parasitic infections are still a widespread problem globally, even in the modern age. For example, malaria, one of the most well-known parasitic diseases—affects more than 200 million people annually, a figure comparable to COVID-19-yet it’s rarely called a pandemic. This is not because malaria is a minor disease, but rather because it has remained so commonplace for so long. Diseases that cause little damage in developed countries tend to be overlooked, regardless of their actual severity.
Unlike viruses and bacteria, parasites are eukaryotes, just like humans. This makes the development of highly selective and effective drugs extremely challenging. Moreover, many parasites establish chronic infections within their hosts and possess sophisticated mechanisms to evade immune responses, making vaccine development equally difficult. To achieve proper control of parasitic diseases, it is essential to accurately understand their survival strategies and pathogenic mechanisms, and to design countermeasures that specifically target these unique features.
Our laboratory focuses primarily on leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease. We conduct research that ranges from fundamental studies using animal models to fieldwork in regions where the disease is endemic. In addition, by studying the diverse immune-modulating strategies employed by parasites, we aim to apply this knowledge toward developing novel approaches for the control of other immune-related diseases.
Educational approach
From the Laboratory to the Field, and from the Field to the Laboratory
In the Department of Animal Resource Sciences, our mission is to explore the complex and diverse biological phenomena of animals from the molecular to the individual level, ultimately contributing both to the advancement of basic biology and the development of new applied technologies. Within this field, our laboratory focuses on parasitic infectious diseases, investigating the interactions among diverse animals such as parasites, mammalian hosts, and vector insects.
Effective control of infectious diseases requires not only the core medical components of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, but also infrastructural development and public awareness—economic and sociological perspectives are equally indispensable. In our laboratory, members are encouraged to explore approaches that align with their own interests, continually asking, “Which strategies are truly effective?”. Consequently, our research covers a broad spectrum, from clarifying immune pathology and developing vaccines and diagnostic tools, to investigating the ecology of vector insects and conducting on-site surveys in endemic regions. Our research style—integrating knowledge obtained both in the laboratory and in the field—enables a comprehensive understanding of diseases and the development of effective countermeasures. This approach reflects the core principles of the Faculty of Agriculture: to take a broad perspective and to learn directly from the field.
Many of our students are motivated by fundamental questions such as “What is disease?” or by the aspiration to “contribute to solving health problems.” After graduation, they often continue their research careers in academia or take up positions in pharmaceutical and other health-related industries.
Vision for industry-academia collaboration
Toward Comprehensive Control of Parasitic Diseases
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), including leishmaniasis, have increasingly drawn global attention in recent years. For example, in 2012, a landmark public–private partnership involving 13 major pharmaceutical companies, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the World Health Organization announced the London Declaration on NTDs, a commitment to their control. Furthermore, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.3) explicitly call for the suppression of NTDs. Contributing to the control of leishmaniasis therefore not only advances scientific and medical goals but also fulfills a broader social responsibility toward building a sustainable society.
Our laboratory is one of the few research teams in Japan dedicated to leishmaniasis. We provide unique expertise and resources, ranging from in vitro and in vivo models for drug evaluation to preparations of parasite-derived materials. Through collaborations with various institutions and private companies, we have established a strong track record in the development of therapeutics and diagnostic tools. Although the number of cases remains limited, imported infections in humans and dogs are occasionally reported in Japan. To address this, our laboratory supports diagnostic efforts by offering a wide array of tools, including microscopic examination, immunohistochemistry, serological assays, and nucleic acid–based detection methods.
