感 染 症Infectious Diseases Control

Speed, Accuracy, and Low Cost Vital to Treating Trypanosomiasis and Tuberculosis

Finding candidate therapeutic agents for infectious diseases prevalent in Southeast AsiaDengue fever is a viral disease spread by mosquitoes that infects 50 million people living in the tropics every year, with about

200,000 fatalities, but no effective therapies have yet been established. However, whenever someone is infected by a disease

agent, his or her body makes proteins called antibodies. The key role of those antibodies is to control the symptoms of the

disease and cure the patient. We are conducting research that involves taking antibodies from dengue fever patients that seem

to be useful against the disease, and attempting to use them as medicine. At the same time, we are conducting similar research

for influenza, which is a worldwide problem, and for the botulinum toxin, which is a problem in Thailand. We are also searching

microorganisms prevalent in Thailand for compounds that are effective as a dengue fever treatment.

Conducting experiments to develop new drugs following the successful creation of antibodiesWe have succeeded in creating many antibodies against the dengue virus,

influenza virus and botulinum toxin. Many of those antibodies appear to

be potentially effective as therapeutic agents. Next, we will perform more

detailed evaluations, aiming for the development of new drugs.

Creating Drugs Effective against the Dengue Virus from Human BeingsPrincipal Investigator Prof. IKUTA Kazuyoshi / Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University

Principal Investigator Prof. SUZUKI Yasuhiko / Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University

= Research and Development of Therapeutic Products against Infectious Diseases, especially Dengue Virus Infection =

= Establishment of Rapid Diagnostic Tools for Tuberculosis and Trypanosomiasis and Screening of Candidate Compounds for Trypanosomiasis =

Preventing spread of infection through fast and accurate diagnosisTuberculosis, one of the most serious infectious diseases in Zambia, is a zoonotic disease that is expected to spread

because it has developed resistance to existing therapies. Another major disease is malaria, but misdiagnosis of

trypanosomiasis and other similar ailments as malaria often leads to death as a consequence of failure to provide

appropriate treatment. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment is essential to preventing the

spread of these diseases. For this project, we are seeking to adapt highly sensitive, speedy and

low-cost diagnosis systems developed largely in Japan to the diagnosis of tuberculosis and

trypanosomiasis, and at the same time develop drugs to treat trypanosomiasis.

Successful development of diagnostic techniques and discovery of many potential therapeutic drugsOur research led not only to the successful development of speedy techniques for diagnosing

tuberculosis and trypanosomiasis that are practical for use at local inspection stations, but also to the synthesis of over 300

candidate substances with potential to become therapeutic drugs, and we are now assessing their effectiveness. We plan to

transfer these outcomes to Zambia, and improve its research and development capabilities.

Terminated ProjectsS A T R E P S 2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 3

SATREPS 2012-2013

Infectious Diseases Control

Counterpart Institutions University Teaching Hospital (UTH) / University of Zambia (UNZA)

Collaborators Tottori University / Fujita Health University / Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine

Research Period 5 Years Adoption Fiscal Year FY 2008

Counterpart Institutions National Institute of Health (NIH), Ministry of Public Health / Mahidol University (MU)

Collaborators --

Research Period 4 Years Adoption Fiscal Year FY 2008

We have provided repeated training to transfer advanced Japanese technology for creating antibodies from the blood cells

of Thai dengue patients to help develop possible therapies.

One of the research partnership’s Thai partners, the National Institute of Health

(NIH), part of the Ministry of Public Health

Using mice to assess the effectiveness of discovered

antibodies

A dry kit that is easy to use for tests at rural clinics has been

successfully developed.

Introducing examination

methods developed in Japan to Zambia

We are studying Trypanosome prevalent in

animals, and sequencing the genes of those likely to infect humans so as to boost the precision of our diagnostic

techniques.

Kingdom of Thailand

Republic of Zambia

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Terminated Projects

SATREPS 2012-2013SATREPS 2012-2013

Tomato farmers in Limpopo province expect to benefit from the seasonal forecasts.

Using SINTEX-F, we predicted heavy rainfalls for southern Africa during December 2010 to February 2011, giving over six months warning.

Disaster education makes use of paintings by people hit by the earthquake and Mentawai islands tsunami in October 2010.

Eruption of the Merapi volcano. The pyroclastic flow reached approximately 4 km from the vent.

Project members and associates gathered on the final evaluation day. The young people at the rear are the graduate students, who were very keen participants.

Giving instruction on a new diagnostic technique using (1,3)-ß-D-glucan

One o f t h e many mee t i ng s w i t h Bhu t an researchers in preparation for field study.

Verifying glacial lake inventory accuracy at Metatsota Lake in the Mangde Chu watershed.

■Principal Investigator: Dr. YAMAGATA Toshio, Director of Application Laboratory, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ■Counterpart Institutions: Applied Centre for Climate and Earth Systems Science (ACCESS), etc. ■Collaborators: The University of Tokyo ■Project Adopted: FY2009 ■Research Period (Initial): 3 years

■Principal Investigator: Prof. NISHIMURA Kouichi, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University ■Counterpart Institutions: Department of Geology and Mines in the Ministry of Economic Affairs (DGM), etc. ■Collaborators: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Earth System Science Co., Ltd. (ESS) ■Project Adopted: FY2008 ■Research Period (Initial): 3 years

The period of research in South Africa was highly fulfilling, and is now becoming a fond memory. I am convinced that the contribution we made to S&T diplomacy and the firm links we built with collaborating researchers and policy workers will provide a solid foundation for subsequent stages. It would be good to go back for a visit during

the spring when the jacaranda trees are in bloom, coloring the city purple-blue.

Post-project comment

We faced many difficulties, including field studies in mountainous areas at elevations over 5000m. It was the extent of the collaboration with Bhutan researchers that made this project a success. I am relieved to see that construction of the early warning system has commenced.

Post-project comment

Success No.1 World first prediction of mid-latitude climate variationsResearchers clarified the mechanism of the subtropical dipole modes that trigger abnormal weather in South Africa, and used the SINTEX-F high-resolution ocean-atmosphere coupled model to successfully predict mid-latitude climate variation.

Success No.2 Japan’s advanced science endorsed by local weather agencyThe official South Africa Weather Service (SAWS) rated the project highly and joined the research team partway through the project. This provided a route to continue towards practical deployment of the observation system after the project finished.

Success No.3 Win-Win connections between individuals were key to project’s successSeminars for local students and other active networking efforts to get to know people led to the merging of the South African observation results with the Japanese team’s simulation research. The human network created was instrumental in raising the level of results.

Next Steps Make climate variation predictions a part of ordinary life, like weather forecasts.The next step is to use the findings of our research to enhance the accuracy of climate variation predictions for mid-latitude areas of the northern hemisphere, including Japan. At the same time, we aim to make the predications useful for non-agricultural applications, including measures against infectious diseases carried by mosquitoes and other vectors, and water level adjustments for dams.

Success No.1 Using Japan’s space technology to create a Bhutan glacial lake inventoryUsing observation data from Japan’s Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS), combined with a number of on-site GPS surveys, we made an accurate survey of Bhutan’s glacial lakes, creating and publishing an inventory containing the latest data on glacial lakes.

Success No.2 The first ever survey to scientifically identify glacial lakes posing a threat to the survey areaWe established a methodology for assessing risk using ASTER satellite data, based on characteristics such as the depression angle between the flat lake surface and the surrounding terrain. Scientific identification of glacial lakes posing a threat to the survey area in the Mangde Chu watershed was a world first.

Success No.3 Research findings reflected in measures to deal with GLOFsFrom the research findings, Bhutan recognized the importance of a system for monitoring watersheds for GLOFs, and has decided to move forward with construction of watershed early warning systems, and to establish a National Weather and Flood Forecasting and Warning Center.

Next Steps Use findings in research on the world’s glaciers under global warmingWith global warming, the method of using satellite data to assess the danger of glacial lakes can be extended to research on glaciers worldwide. Work is already proceeding on extending the method to the whole of the Himalayas and to the Andes.

Southern Africa is vulnerable to

abnormal weather. Simulating the interaction

of the atmosphere and the oceans enabled

seasonal weather to be accurately

predicted between six months and

one year in advance.

Developed a method based on

satellite data to assess the risk of

GLOFs (glacial lake outburst floods)

that threaten Bhutan’s villages and

hydroelectric plants

Alongside research on forecasting

earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic

eruptions, this project worked on disaster

education, building a disaster-resilient

society, and contributing to overall disaster

preparedness in Indonesia.

Developed effective diagnostic

techniques for fungal infections

caused by yeasts and molds, based on

fungal strain identification and DNA

analysis data

Prediction of Climate Variations and its Application in the Southern African Region

Attempting to Predict Whole Earth’s Climate Variations from Africa

The Study on GLOFs (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods) in the Bhutan Himalayas

Protecting the Land of Happiness from Glacial Lake Outbursts, and Extending Research to Glaciers around the Globe

Multi-disciplinary Hazard Reduction from Earthquakes and Volcanoes in Indonesia

Crossing National and Disciplinary Boundaries to Protect Indonesia from Natural Disasters

The Project for New Diagnostic Approaches in the Management of Fungal Infections in AIDS and Other Immunocompromised Patients

Protect Immunocompromised Patients from Infections Caused by Fungus

■Principal Investigator: Prof. SATAKE Kenji, Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo ■Counterpart Institutions: Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) ■Collaborators: Tohoku University, Nagoya University, Kyoto University, Fuji Tokoha University ■Project Adopted: FY2008 ■Research Period (Initial): 3 years

■Principal Investigator: Prof. KAMEI Katsuhiko, Medical Mycology Research Center (MMRC), Chiba University ■Counterpart Institutions: Sao Paulo State University of Campinas (UNICAMP)■Collaborators: -- ■Project Adopted: FY2009 ■Research Period (Initial): 3 years

The greatest success of this project was creating the network of people from different areas of expertise. We gathered together 200 researchers from the two countries despite systems not being fully in place during the first year of the SATREPS program, and we had to work hard to cover the

number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that actually occurred.

I am glad that we were able to help people suffering from fungal infection in Latin America. Having seen the sparkle in the eyes of the many graduate students who took part in the research in Brazil, I am convinced that our findings will be take hold and be passed on to the

next generation.

Post-project comment

Post-project comment

Success No.1 Over 200 researchers joined together in a massive networkOver 200 researchers joined together in a single network, divided into six teams to work on forecasting earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions, building a disaster-resilient society through both hardware (engineering) and software (social science) aspects, disaster education, and other areas.

Success No.2 Made progress in predicting volcanic eruptions and surveyed damage immediately after events during the study periodBy observing changes in ground surface gradient immediately before eruption, we were able to predict the type and scale of eruption. We also conducted surveys immediately after the 2009 West Java earthquake and the 2010 Mount Merapi eruption.

Success No.3 Used local and mass media to deliver disaster information to the people who need itConducted disaster education for schools and local communities, created evacuation simulations and teaching materials using pictures painted from direct experience of disasters, and conducted disaster education online using the Internet. Disaster education activities were included in local TV coverage.

Next Steps Continue with comprehensive disaster mitigation to save more livesFurther develop the research network formed by this project. Enhance disaster prevention technology through earthquake and volcano surveys, and work on practical, ongoing disaster education.

Success No.1 Communicated Japanese technology to local people and established a better diagnostic methodTransferred technology to Brasil relating to the DNA chips for identifying the strain of fungus, and to the new DNA detection methods: LAMP, and Realtime PCR. Established rapid and simple diagnosis and fungal strain identification methods.

Success No.2 The method allows identification of strains in districts where there is no budget for special equipmentThe ability to identify causative fungi with the naked eye using DNA chips or similar devices that require no special equipment is a game-changing technology developed in Japan. Moreover, the method is likely to be extensible to other types of infection.

Success No.3 The technology is being transferred worldwide, not just to BrazilWe have produced instruction manuals for the DNA chips and LAMP method, and made them available to other countries. We also produced a fungal infection diagnosis manual in Portuguese, and hope that it will be of use in Portuguese-speaking areas of Africa, too.

Next Steps Offering help to other regions with fungal infection issuesWe want to apply our research findings to countries in Africa and Latin America where there are many people living with HIV and there is a risk of fungal infections becoming widespread, and also to immunocompromised patients in Japan and other advanced nations with the aim of improving quality of life.

Republic of

South Africa

Republic of

Indonesia

Kingdom of

Bhutan

Federative Republic of

Brazil

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation

Infectious Diseases Control

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation

Climate Change

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