Overview

Research and Development of Innovative Next-Generation Mucosal Vaccines

Director/Professor Ken Ishii

Humans have evolved together with a wide variety of microorganisms through life phenomenon "Symbiosis and Elimination". The immune system that serves as its foundation for harmonizing with beneficial microorganisms and attempting to eliminate it as harmful pathological microorganisms. The development of antibiotics and vaccines and the advancement of public health care systems have provided means to prevent and contain infectious diseases, thus contributing to the welfare of humanity and social progress in the 20th century. However, we are now facing new challenges including: 1) The emergence of an entirely new range of problems including drug resistances, immunocompromised hosts, and hospital acquired infections; 2) Serious problems in developing countries that repeat a vicious cycle of poverty and the spread of infectious diseases; and 3) The occurrence of emerging/reemerging infectious diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. In advanced countries, the main serious problems include allergic diseases, such as pollen and food allergies, and cancer.　It is now known that a flexible but precise mucosal immune system exists and serve as an interface between in-and out-side environments. After infection, allergies and cancer often occur in mucosal tissues, such as the respiratory, digestive and urogenital organs. Both basic investigations to clarify the role of the mucosal immune system from a physiological state to pathogenesis, and the development of fundamental technology to induce and modulate mucosal immunity artificially, are essential for the development of new preventative treatments and therapies.

In these circumstances, it is important to take the initiative in the development of ‘mucosal vaccines’ as a next-generation strategy for the prevention and treatment of illness in our country and the rest of worlds, which has taken the lead in the promotion of immunological research based on our understanding of “ Symbiosis and Elimination”. In 2011, The Institute of Medical Science at The University of Tokyo (IMSUT) initiated the establishment of an International Research and Development Center for Mucosal Vaccine (IMV), to promote cooperation between international researchers in integrating accumulated intellectual discovery and technology including immunology, microbiology, oncology, genome medical science, regenerative medicine and systems biology in a cross-disciplinary manner. The center will develop an innovative academic field, termed ‘Mucosal Vaccinology’, by promoting basic research on mucosal immunology and vaccinology for the development of new generation of mucosal vaccines with the aim of forming an international hub to foster next generation researchers.　Molecular and cellular bases of integrated understanding of “Symbiosis and Elimination” will lead to the opening of new era for the development of next generation of mucosal vaccines.