Since enormous economic losses of livestock are caused by those infections on a global scale, establishment of effective preventive measures to control these infections is the most important subject to maintain maximum food production in the restricted spaces we have on the earth.  For these reasons, my research activities are concentrated on systematic analysis of the pathogenesis of viral, protozoan, rickettsial and vector-borne infections of domestic animals.  In addition, I am currently developing the diagnostic methods of the intractable diseases, and novel vaccine (anti-tick vaccine) or therapeutic strategies (using antibody or recombinant protein) against the diseases.

1. Support for graduate students in this program
2. Global surveillance for infectious diseases/li>
3. Graduate international collaborations for this program/li>
4. Publicity activity for the program

1. Okagawa T, Konnai S, Ikebuchi R, Suzuki S, Shirai T, Sunden Y, Onuma M, Murata S, Ohashi K. 2012. Increased bovine Tim-3 and its ligand expressions during bovine leukemia virus infection. Vet. Res., (in press).
2. Ikebuchi, R., Konnai, S., Shirai, T., Sunden, Y., Murata, S., Onuma, M., Ohashi, K. 2011. Increase of cells expressing PD-L1 in bovine leukemia virus infection and enhancement of anti-viral immune responses in vitro via PD-L1 blockade. Vet. Res., 42:103.
3. Mingala, C.N., Konnai, S., Ikebuchi, R., Onuma, M., Ohashi, K. 2011. Characterization of CTLA-4, PD-1 and PDL-1 of swamp and riverine type water buffaloes. Comp. Immunol. Microbiol. Infect. Dis., 34: 55-63.
4. Mekata, H., Konnai, S., Mingala, C.N., Abes, N.S., Gutierrez, A., Dargantes, A.P., Witola, W.H., Inoue, N., Onuma, M., Murata, S., Ohash, K. 2012. Kinetics of regulatory dendritic cells in inflammatory responses during Trypanosoma evansi infection. Parasite Immunol., (in press).
5. Konnai, S., Yamada, S., Imamura, S., Nishikado, H., Githaka, N.W., Ito, T., Takano, A., Kawabata, H., Murata, S., Ohashi, K. 2012. Identification of TROSPA homologue in Ixodes persulcatus, Schulze, the specific vector for human Lyme borreliosis in Japan. Ticks Tick borne dis., (in press)