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Infection and Host Defense

Overview

We aim to eradicate infectious diseases caused by intracellular parasites belonging to the protozoan phylum Apicomplexa, such as Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii by understanding their cellular biology. In our laboratory, we analyze the parasite mitochondrion and apicoplast (non-photosynthetic chloroplast) in order to elucidate detail mechanisms of energy transduction in these organelles. Also, we focus on autophagy for quality control of these organelles in the parasites. In addition, we have received requests of PCR diagnosis of congenital and acquired toxoplasmosis from hospitals all over Japan. Using these specimens, we are uncovering molecular epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in Japan

Associate Professor:
Kenji Hikosaka, Ph.D.

TEL: +81-43-226-2073
FAX: +81-43-226-2076
e-mail: hikosaka●chiba-u.jp
URL: http://www.m.chiba-u.ac.jp/class/infection-hostdefense/index.html

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Research & Education

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  1. Analysis of mitochondrial function of protozoan parasites
    ・Mechanisms of resistance for antimalarial drug targeting parasite mitochondria
    ・Evolution of mitoribosomes of malaria parasites
    ・A role of the TCA cycle of Cryptosporidium
  2. Apicoplast biogenesis and autophagy-related (ATG) proteins
    ・Functional analysis of ATGs for apicoplast biogenesis
    ・Proteome analysis of apicoplast
    ・Functional analysis of ATGs for quality control of proteins
  3. Research for clinical parasitology
    ・Development of a novel diagnosis method of toxoplasmosis
    ・Investigation of congenital and acquired toxoplasmosis in Japan
    ・Phylogenetic analysis of Toxoplasma isolated from human and cats in Japan
  4. Education about medical parasitology for medical students

Recent Publications

  1. Li K, Feng X, Hikosaka K, Norose K. Murine model of primary acquired ocular toxoplasmosis: Fluorescein angiography and multiplex immune mediator profiles in  the aqueous humor. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 62: 9, 2021 
  2. Sakamoto H, Nakada-Tsukui K, Besteiro S. The Autophagy Machinery in Human-Parasitic Protists; Diverse Functions for Universally Conserved Proteins. Cells, 10: 1258, 2021
  3. Shinjyo N, Hikosaka K, Kido Y, Yoshida H, Norose K. Toxoplasma infection induces sustained up-regulation of complement factor B and C5a receptor in the mouse brain via microglial activation: Implication for the alternative complement pathway activation and anaphylatoxin signaling in cerebral toxoplasmosis. Front immunol 11:603924, 2021.