The Fish Virology Lab conducts research into the pathogenic mechanisms of viral infection in fish and viral pathogenic mechanisms. A virus mutates its genome to avoid an attack from the host (molecular evolution). In this area, the mechanism of a pathogenic virus in fish is same as that of a pathogenic virus in humans or livestock. However, a virus in a poikilothermic animal changes its proliferation speed and pathogenicity significantly, depending on the temperature (breeding temperature) of the host. We attempted to clarify the pathogenic mechanism of viruses based on the proliferation speed of the fish virus, its pathogenicity, and its molecular evolution speed. In addition, the results of this study may lead to the development of fish virus vaccines that are useful in mitigating virus-induced damage to the marine aquaculture industry, thereby contributing to increasing stability in the production and acquisition of marine protein resources.
- Research Interests
- 1. Molecular evolution of fish RNA virus and pathogenicity
- 2. Intercellular factor in the host, which inhibits the proliferation of fish virus
- 3. Self-interference of virus and mechanism of persistence infection
- 4. Development and commercialization of fish virus vaccine