The Department of Virology I is engaged in research, the quality control of vaccines, and reference activities related to highly pathogenic viruses including hemorrhagic fever viruses, arboviruses, neuroviruses, herpesviruses, Rickettsia and Chlamydia. The research is directed towards (i) biological characterization of viruses, Rickettsia and Chlamydia, (ii) the development of laboratory diagnostic methods, (iii) molecular and sero-epidemiology, (iv) disease pathogenesis, and (v) the development of new vaccines.

SPECIAL PATHOGENS LABORATORY

Laboratory diagnosis and virological studies on hemorrhagic fever viruses including Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever viruses and variola virus.
Study on the pathogeniesis of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus infection.
Development of diagnostic laboratory tests for emerging and re-emerging viral diseases.
Reference laboratory activities on poxviruses.
Quality control of and study on smallpox vaccine.

LABORATORY OF ARBOVIRUSES

Development of diagnostic laboratory methods for arbovirus infections.
Molecular and epidemiological studies on arboviruses.
Studies on the immune responses induced by arbovirus infection and vaccination.
Quality control of Japanese encephalitis vaccine.
Quality control of yellow fever vaccine.
Reference laboratory activity on arbovirus diseases.
This laboratory has been designated as one of the global specialized Japanese encephalitis laboratories by the WHO.

LABORATORY OF NEUROVIRUSES

Studies on the pathogenesis of rabies virus.
Quality control of rabies vaccine.
Laboratory tests for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
Studies on neurotropic bunyaviruses.

LABORATORY OF HERPESVIRUSES

Studies on prophylaxis, treatment, and diagnosis of the diseases caused by human herpesviruses.
Studies on replication, gene expression, and patho genesis of human herpesviruses.
Molecular and sero-epidemiology of human herpes viruses.
Studies on diagnostics and treatment of drug-resistant herpesvirus infections.
Quality control of varicella zoster virus (VZV) vaccine and VZV intradermal test antigen.

LABORATORY OF RICKETTSIA AND CHLAMYDIA

Development of diagnostic laboratory tests for rickettsial and chlamydial infections.
Molecular and sero-epidemiological studies on Rickettsia and Chlamydia.
Study of the pathogenesis of rickettsial and chlamydial infections.
Reference laboratory activities on Rickettsia and Chlamydia.