The goal of the research is prevention and control of important infectious diseases of animals and humans.  To attain the goal, the ecology of pathogens is thoroughly studied at the levels of their host animal populations, individuals, tissues, cells and molecules.  The research efforts for influenza and pestivirus infections are focused on:
1) The origin, evolution and perpetuation mechanism of pathogens in nature.
2) Studies on the host range, route of transmission, pathogenesis of pathogens and immune response of the hosts.
3) Development of strategies for the prevention and control of the infections. 
Based on these research activities, fundamental and advanced knowledge and techniques of microbiology are taught to undergraduate and graduate students.

1. Activities as a member of the Steering Committee of the Leading Program
2. Support for career path activity
3. Chairman in support for graduate students in this program
4. Promotion of fostering Zoonosis Control Expert

1. Sakoda, Y., Ito, H., Uchida, Y., Okamatsu, M., Yamamoto, N., Soda, K., Nomura, N., Kuribayashi, S., Shichinohe, S., Sunden, Y., Umemura, T., Usui, T., Ozaki, H., Yamaguchi, T., Murase, T., Ito, T., Saito, T., Takada, A., Kida, H., 2012. Reintroduction of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus by migratory water birds, causing poultry outbreaks in the 2010-2011 winter season in Japan. J. Gen. Virol. 93: 541-550.
2. Yamamoto, N., Sakoda, Y., Motoshima, M., Yoshino, F., Soda, K., Okamatsu, M., Kida, H., 2011. Characterization of a non-pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus isolated from a migratory duck flying from Siberia in Hokkaido, Japan, in October 2009. Virol. J. 8: 65.
3. Sakoda, Y., Sugar, S., Batchluun, D., Erdene-Ochir, T.O., Okamatsu, M., Isoda, N., Soda, K., Takakuwa, H., Tsuda, Y., Yamamoto, N., Kishida, N., Matsuno, K., Nakayama, E., Kajihara, M., Yokoyama, A., Takada, A., Sodnomdarjaa, R., Kida, H., 2010. Characterization of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus strains isolated from migratory waterfowl in Mongolia on the way back from the southern Asia to their northern territory. Virology 406: 88-94.
4. Manzoor, R., Sakoda, Y., Nomura, N., Tsuda, Y., Ozaki, H., Okamatsu, M., Kida, H., 2009. PB2 protein of a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus strain A/chicken/Yamaguchi/7/2004 (H5N1) determines its replication potential in pigs. J. Virol. 83: 1572-1578.
5. Ruggli, N., Summerfield, A., Fiebach, A.R., Guzylack-Piriou, L., Bauhofer, O., Lamm, C.G., Waltersperger, S., Matsuno, K., Liu, L., Gerber, M., Choi, K.H., Hofmann, M.A., Sakoda, Y., Tratschin, J.D., 2009. Classical swine fever virus can remain virulent after specific elimination of the interferon regulatory factor 3-degrading function of Npro. J. Virol. 83: 817-829.