Integrated Biomedical Science Division
Infection Biology

Elucidation of cell functions that regulate influenza virus infection


Influenza A virus (IAV) causes a high societal impact across the globe. The often severe symptoms from influenza infection and the inflammation caused in the respiratory tract, results in excess of 500,000 human deaths worldwide, annually. Our research therefore, strives to discover important outcomes which will help control influenza in both humans and animals, including pandemic avian influenza.


Aquatic birds are the reservoir of influenza A viruses in nature and a source for transmission of influenza A viruses to other animal species. The avian influenza A viruses hardly replicate in humans. However, the molecular mechanism how avian influenza overcomes the species barrier is unknown. The aim of our study is to clarify the molecular mechanism of species barrier and pathogenesis of influenza virus. We also try to develop anti-viral compounds that can block the viral infection.


Since viruses have the limited number of viral genes, viruses need to hijack cellular functions and machineries for viral infection. The virus proliferation is dependent on the compatibility between viral factors and host factors in a species- and cell type-specific manner. The cellular machineries, including the innate immunity as anti-viral host defense system, are activated in response to the virus infection. Therefore, the species- and cell type-dependent viral replication and pathogenicity are determined by the competition between virus and host cell (factors).

Aquatic birds are the reservoir of influenza A viruses in nature and the source for transmission of influenza A viruses to other animal species. The avian influenza A viruses hardly replicate in humans, suggesting that it requires an adaptation to human host factors for overcoming the species barrier. However, the molecular mechanism how pandemic avian influenza overcomes the species barrier is unknown. The aim of our study is to clarify the molecular mechanism of species barrier and pathogenesis of influenza virus from point of view of virus replication and host immune responses. We also try to develop anti-viral compounds that can block the viral infection.


Research Division Leader

Professor Atsushi Kawaguchi



Research Division Leader

See Associated External Research Website