Immunology/immunopathology of parasitic diseases

When you catch a cold, you feel feverish, cough, sneeze, and feel down. You may feel suspicious like ‘Hey immunity, are you working hard enough?’, but you experience the discomfort because the immune system is working so hard. In infectious diseases, our immune system contributes to the elimination of pathogens (biological defense), but at the same time, it can cause symptoms that are detrimental to the host (immunopathology). Immune responses are often likened to a "double-edged sword, but you may still feel difficult to accept that immunity, which is supposed to protect the body, is the cause of disadvantages.

However, if we take a closer look at the immune response, there are detailed differences in the cell types and molecules involved in biological defense and immunopathology, which both start from the same infection. If this difference is properly understood, it will be possible to enhance only the immunity involved in biological defense, without inducing the immune response involved in symptoms. In our laboratory, we are studying the mechanisms of biological defense and immunopathology in protozoan diseases using genetically modified animals and immunocompromised animals. By clarifying the molecular mechanisms and the involvement of various cells, we hope to establish vaccines and immunotherapies that optimize the immune balance.