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		The 21st Century COE program
		A message from the Program Leader Our Goal and its Pivotal Role An Implementation Plan for Research Projects Japanese Site Map Access Map	We aim to establish a research program which provides opportunities for placing scientists from research laboratories, expert microbiologists from the fields of bacteriology, protozoology, and virology, and immunologists from the Research Foundation of Microbial Diseases of Osaka University, together. The purpose of this program is to cultivate the free exchange of the outcomes of respective research projects and create a combined research discipline as described herein. We commit to pursue research on the molecular mechanisms of infection and host response, take control of infectious diseases, elucidate the etiology/pathology of various immune diseases which occur due to the failure of the immune system at the time of infection, and finally, to contribute to the development of medicine as one of the most advanced research programs in microbiology and immunology worldwide. *An Implementation Plan for Research Projects 1) Studying the establishment of infection and the initial host response (innate immune response) In order to determine the mechanisms of interaction between a pathogen and a host at the initial stage of infection, we aim to study the mechanisms of the establishment of infection (pathogen invasion?attachment?tissue targeting) and to analyze the mechanisms of host biophylaxis (action taken by a living organism to counteract infection) by focusing on the activation of innate immunity. (A study on the mechanism of herpes virus infection of cells: Despite the worldwide use of pertussis vaccine, a dramatic increase in the number of patients suffering from pertussis has been placed under the spotlight. We aim to investigate the mechanism of infection of this pathogen by analyzing the pathogen-host interaction. In addition, we aim to utilize knockout mice lacking molecules relevant to innate immunity, such as the LTR family, to analyze the changes in the host response against each bacteria, protozoan, and virus, and to clarify the significance of innate immunity in the prevention of infection.) 2) Studying the establishment of infectious pathology and the host immune response (acquired immune response) We aim to study aspects of infection including pathogen attachment to the host, toxin production by pathogens that aids in the establishment of infection, proliferation mechanisms of pathogens, and the host response mechanisms against infection, by focusing on the mechanisms of acquired immune function. In addition, it is our aim to clarify the interactions between pathogen and host after infection has been established by analyzing the molecular mechanisms that allow the pathogen to avoid the host immune response and to maintain infection. (We aim to understand the pathology of bacteria such as Escherichia coli O-157 using analyses of the etiological agents (especially toxin and adhesion factor) which cause intestinal infections and to find the means to prevent intestinal infections which cause symptoms such as diarrhea. Malaria infection is one of the most important tropical infectious diseases. We aim to investigate the molecular mechanisms of acquired immune function in the host response against malaria infection. Sleeping sickness is still a great threat to African natives. We aim to analyze the etiology of the trypanosome, a causative agent of sleeping sickness, and to design countermeasures against host infection by trypanosomes. Hepatitis C is a serious threat to humanity due to the fact that infection leads to high incidence of chronic hepatitis. However, techniques for the proliferation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in cultured cell lines have not yet been established, and the mechanism of HCV infection and the host response mechanism have not been analyzed. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of persistent infection caused by pathogens such as HCV and herpes viruses, we aim to study the mechanisms of viral activation and induction of the innate immune system. We also aim to determine the effects of diphtheria toxin on the host, which is a major issue in diphtheria infection. Furthermore, to examine the molecular basis of the host response, we aim to study the role of immune semaphoring molecules in biophylaxis, the mechanisms of action of innate immunity and acquired immunity. Not only pathogens, but also the role of GPI anchor glycolipids, which are expressed in immune cells, in host response are to be studied.) 3)Controlling Infectious Diseases, and Developing Technology for Engineering the Immune System Based upon the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the interactions between pathogens and hosts at the time of infection as described above, we aim to develop a novel vaccine in order to achieve a basic control over infectious diseases. Moreover, we also aim to investigate the pathology/etiology of immune diseases caused by failure of the immune system at the time of infection, and potentially provide a treatment based on engineering. (Based upon the outcome of basic research from the aforementioned research program, we aim to engage in the development of novel vaccines as powerful countermeasures to defeat infectious diseases. Indeed, we are currently planning a clinical trial of the SE36 malaria vaccine using recombinant SERA protein.) 4)Establishing a Microbiological Laboratory Facility for Animal Experiments We aim to establish a microbiological laboratory facility for animal experiments with a P3 biohazard level. This type of laboratory is absolutely necessary for conducting experiments and performing the aforementioned analyses on infection and host responses. Only a few research facilities in Japan meet such criteria, and the lack of appropriate microbiological laboratories is a bottleneck in the advancement of the research field studying the host response against infection. The Research Foundation of Microbial Diseases has maintained various pathogen lines including conventional P3 pathogen. This provides optimal conditions for the establishment of such a microbiological laboratory for animal experiments. In addition, we will recruit researchers who are fully conversant with techniques involving various infection models to prepare an environment which allows us to conduct microbiological experiments at all times. The laboratory facility we plan to establish for this program will be a home for the research projects of the program facilitators and will also serve as an ideal model microbiology and immunology laboratory facility equipped with the P3 biohazard level.