1. Members

Project Leader	KUNISAWA Jun
Researcher	SANADA Takayuki, HOTTA Masashi
Project Researcher	KONDO Saki
Research Scientist	YOSHII Ken, KAWASHIMA Hitoshi, IKEDA Yuka
Research Trainee	LIU Zilai, ISHIDA Kei, HIFUMI Seiya, YOSHIOKA Takuya, LIN Zihan, HIRAYAMA Yuuki
Trainee	IEMITSU Keigo
Research Coordination Specialist	TOJIMA Yoko, NODE Eri, UCHIYAMA Keita, MURAKAMI Asako
Technical Assistant	FURUTA Mari, MORITA Makiko
Secretary	HAMADA Hitomi, NAKATSU Aki

2. Background and Objectives

Materials such as antigen delivery system, adjuvant, immunomodulator are required for the development of vaccines, immunotherapy, and functional foods. The aims of Laboratory of Vaccine Materials are to understand the host immunity controlled by gut environment such as commensal or pathogenic microorganisms and diets and to apply the basic findings to the development of vaccines, immunotherapy, and functional foods.

3. Overview of our research

1. The development of effective vaccine materials based on the unique functions of commensal and pathogenic microorganisms

This project aims to reveal the immunological function of commensal and pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Alcaligenes and C. perfringens) and apply their functional molecules to vaccine materials (e.g., vaccine delivery and adjuvant) to promote active or quiescent immunity without disrupting immunological homeostasis.

2. Elucidation of unique features of mucosal immune system controlled by diets

As diets, the lab focuses on oils and vitamins et al. As the basic research, we have examined immunologic functions of dietary oils as a source of lipid mediators and have identified some good mediators for the control of allergic and inflammatory diseases. We are currently trying to translate them to the development of functional foods and medicine. In vitamin project, we have reported specific functions of some vitamins (vitamin A and B family) as a key regulator of particular type of immune responses and are currently expanding the studies to examine other vitamin-mediated immunologic functions.

Laboratory of Vaccine Materials

Website	http://www.nibiohn.go.jp/vaccine_material_project/english/
E-mail	kunisawa[at]nibiohn.go.jp