Cross-sectional analysis of latent infections for the space development – Publicly Invited Research 2018－2019

  1. A01 Ogura
  2. A01 H. Takahashi
  3. A01 S. Takahashi
  4. A01 Michiue
  5. A01 Hinoi
  6. A01 Tsumoto
  7. A01 Nikawa
  8. A01 Chatani
  9. A01 Kawakami
  10. A01 Akiyama
  11. A01 Tomita
  1. A02 Shinohara
  2. A02 Mieda
  3. A02 Maekawa
  4. A02 Abe
  5. A02 Ohgami
  6. A02 Kawano
  7. A02 Takano
  1. A03 Suzuki
  2. A03 Nakamura
  3. A03 Harada
  4. A03 Kobayashi
  5. A03 Miyamoto
  6. A03 Funayama
  7. A03 Kakinuma
  1. B01 Lazarus
  2. B01 Kato
  3. B01 Kunieda
  4. B01 Kitaya
  5. B01 Sawano
Research Subject Cross-sectional analysis of latent infections for the space development
Research Group Leader
name
Research Collaborator(s)
  • Yasushi Kawaguchi
    Professor, Division of Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science The University of Tokyo
  • Jun Arii
    Assistant Professor, Division of Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science The University of Tokyo
  • Naoto Koyanagi
    Researcher, Division of Molecular Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science The University of Tokyo

About 95% of the global population is estimated to be infected with human herpesviruses (HHVs). On the ground, the vast majority of HHV infections is considered asymptomatic (“latent”) because humans and HHVs had established a symbiotic relationship. On the other hands, the space environment is expected to be rich in the risk of breaking the exquisite symbiotic relationship between humans and latent infectious virus. However, the effect of the extreme stress such as gravity changes or radiations on the symbiotic relationship between humans and HHVs have not been elucidated yet. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is an ideal model to investigate physiological significance of latent infection-causing viruses in human. Therefore, in this study, We will use HSV to reveal how HSV establishes and maintains symbiosis with humans. In addition, we will investigate the effect of the extreme stress on the maintenance or reactivation of latent infection.