News & Topics

Research
2008.03.20

Elucidation of mechanism of herpes simplex virus infection (Prof. Arase in Cell)

A research group by Prof. Arase at WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center / Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University elucidated a molecular mechanism of herpes simplex virus infection.

Herpes simplex virus infection causes various infectious diseases such as encephalitis, genital herpes, dermal herpes, herpetic keratitis. It is considered that 80,000 people are treated in Japan every year. Especially encephalitis is serious and sometimes results in death.

In this study, we found that PILR, one of cell surface receptors, is involved in entry of herpes simplex virus into cells. Furthermore, HSV1 infection of PILR expressing cells was abrogated by inhibition of interaction between PILR and viral protein

These findings will contribute to develop new drug for herpes simplex virus infection and to regulate herpes virus mediated-gene therapy

These results will be published in “Cell”, a scientific journal in USA, at March 21st, 2008.

Article

 

Contact:

Hisashi Aarase
Principal Investigator,
WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University
Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University
3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
Tel: +81-6-6879-8291 Fax: +81-6-6879-8290
E-mail:arase@biken.osaka-u.ac.jp

Masahiro Tsuji
Associate Professor: Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University
Associate Professor: Department of Molecular Protozoology, Research Center for Infectious Disease Control, Osaka University
Basic Research Project, Japan Science and Technology Agency
5, Sanbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0075 Japan
Tel: +81-3-3512-3526 Fax: +81-3-3222-2065
E-mail:sorst@jst.go.jp

WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University
Administration Section
3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
Tel: +81-6-6879-4275 Fax: +81-6-6879-8266
E-mail: ifrec-office@ifrec.osaka-u.ac.jp
URL: http://www.ifrec.osaka-u.ac.jp/