Special Lecture [SL] 【Japanese】13:10-14:10, September 26 (Tue)Room 1

“Virus in Biohistory”

Educational Lecture1 [EL1] 【Japanese】11:00-11:50, September 27 (Wed) Room 1

“Molecular Basis of Oxidative Stress Response and Disease”

Educational Lecture2 [EL2] 【Japanese】11:00-11:50, September 28 (Thu) Room 1

“Development of oncolytic virus therapy product G47Δ”

Symposium1 [S1] 【English】9:00-11:50, September 26 (Tue) Room 1

"Innovation in vaccine development: Perspectives from global research leaders"

• Introduction from chairs

  9:00am-9:30am
  Kei Sato, Ph.D.
  Dr. Kei Sato is a Professor at The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Sato is pioneering a new field of virology that he calls ‘systems virology’, which encompasses multiple aspects of viruses, such as epidemiology, pathogenicity, replication dynamics, and viral structures, and applies this interdisciplinary approach to HIV and SARS-CoV-2. To combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Sato launched a consortium, ‘The Genotype to Phenotype Japan (G2P-Japan)” which is organized mainly by young virologists, in 2021.

  
  

  9:30am-10:10am
  Wendy Barclay, Ph.D.
  Dr. Wendy Barclay is a Professor of Virology at Imperial College London. She is a world-renowned expert on influenza and coronaviruses. Her research has focused on understanding molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis and host range restriction of these viruses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Barclay has advised governments and public health organizations on how to respond to the pandemic, and has been a vocal advocate for research into new treatments and vaccines.

  
  

  10:10am-10:50am
  Ralph Baric, Ph.D.
  Dr. Ralph Baric is a Professor at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Baric is a genuine corona virologist, who received his Ph.D. on coronavirus and has been studying coronaviruses including SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 for over 30 years. His research has focused on understanding the molecular biology of these viruses, how they spread from animals to humans, and how to develop vaccines and treatments against them. Dr. Baric's work has been instrumental in our understanding of coronaviruses.

  
  

  10:50am-11:20am
  Yoshihiro Kawaoka, DVM., Ph.D.
  Dr. Kawaoka is a Project Professor at The University of Tokyo, Director of Center for Global Viral Infections at National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Japan, and Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has been studying influenza virus, Ebola virus, and SARS-CoV-2. His research focuses on molecular pathogenesis, vaccine development and drug resistance of these viruses.

  
  

  11:20am-11:50am
  Keiji Itaka, MD, Ph.D.
  Dr. Keiji Itaka is a Professor of Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), and also Osaka University. After starting his career as an M.D. of orthopaedic surgery, he has been engaged in scientific research on DDS, biomaterials, and gene therapy, and now focusing on mRNA medicines and vaccines. Besides preparing the first clinical trial of mRNA medicine for the treatment of joint disease at TMDU, he works for developing mRNA vaccines for infectious diseases as a member of Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research at Osaka University.

Symposium2 [S2] 【English/Japanese】8:40-10:50, September 27 (Wed) Room 1

Sendai virus 70th anniversary symposium "History and application” -from Discovery to Prospects of research-

• Introduction from chairs

  Sendai virus was isolated in 1953 from infants with neonatal pneumonia that caused an outbreak at a ward in the Tohoku University Hospital. The virus played a leading role in the advancement of viral research in the negative-strand viruses at the time as a prototype of Mononegavirales. In this symposium, we will look back on the history of Sendai virus research and see how it has progressed to the present day and discuss its prospects for the future.

  
  

  Morio Homma (Professor Emeritus, Kobe University, Honorary Member of the Japanese Society for Virology)
  In 1973, Dr. Homma discovered the phenomenon that the F protein of Sendai virus needed to be cleaved by a trypsin-like protease in the host to acquire infectivity.

  
  

  Makoto Takeda (Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo)
  Professor Takeda has achieved great success in research on the mechanism of activation of respiratory viruses such as influenza and coronaviruses by host proteases, as well as on the pathogenesis of measles. Recently, he is planning to start a new project using mice-Sendai virus system.

  
  

  Takashi Irie (Department of Virology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University)
  Dr. Irie is studying several aspects of the basic virology of Sendai virus, such as exploring the mechanism of persistent infection of the virus, as well as the functions of its accessory proteins. Moreover, he is also exploring a potential application of the virus as a vaccine vector.

  
  

  Mahito Nakanishi (TOKIWA-Bio, Inc.)
  Dr. Nakanishi is developing stealth-type RNA vectors (SRVs) with the aim of industrializing regenerative medicine. His dream is to establish a technology for gene therapy originated from Japan, employing safe vectors using Sendai virus that enable sustained cytoplasmic expression of intended proteins.

Symposium3 [S3] 【English】8:50-10:50, September 27 (Wed) Room 3

"Viral ways of life: their origin and diversification"

• Introduction from chairs

  The main topic of this symposium is the great diversity of RNA viruses and their way of life. We discuss the origin and diversification of RNA viruses from perspectives of their cellular level replication to entire lifecycles. We believe that this symposium will greatly advance understanding of the commonalities and differences in viral way of life among various RNA viruses from different kingdoms of organisms.

  1. Dr. Massimo Turina (Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy)
     The author’s group recently discovered a group of RNA viruses, termed ambiviruses, with peculiar properties between viroids and RNA viruses and provided an interesting insight into RNA virus evolution. Ambiviruses encode an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) and a ribozyme, which will be classified into a new phylum, phylum Ambiviricota, within the kingdom Ribovirinae.
  2. Dr. Ken Komatsu (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology)
     Most (+)RNA viruses replicate in association with intracellular membrane. Dr. Komatsu revealed the mechanisms by which a plant (+)RNA potexvirus, plantago asiatica mosaic virus, diverts cellular membrane into its replication site through the membrane-binding activity of viral methyltransferase. He will also discuss commonality in intracellular replication found between plant and animal (+)RNA viruses.
  3. Dr. Richard Kormelink (Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands)
     Dr. Kormelink will discuss the forefront of virus/host interactions or the expression of virus genetic information. Some (-)RNA viruses utilize a process termed cap-snatching, where they steal and utilize 5’cap sequences of cellular mRNAs. He highlights the cap-snatching mechanism of cytoplasmically replicating plant and animal bunyaviruses and provide interesting insights into how and where in the cell the cap snatching occurs.
  4. Dr. Chikara Masuta (Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University)
     Dr. Masuta has long been working on a satellite RNA called Y (Y-sat) associated with cucumber mosaic virus with a (+)RNA genome. His group has previously revealed how the Y-sat contributes to the yellowing symptom induced by CMV. In this symposium, he will show a sophisticated lifestyle of Y-sat in which Y-sat manipulates host plants as well as CMV insect vector to facilitate its spread.

Symposium4 [S4] 【Japanese】8:50-10:50, September 28 (Thu) Room 1

"Looking at virology from outside"

• Introduction from chairs

  This symposium invites distinguished researchers engaged in the study of viral diseases, approaching from perspectives distinct from “classic” virology. Their multi-disciplinary studies have engendered remarkable accomplishments, through which we are to advance and broaden Virology.

  
  

  Suyong Re
  National Institute of Biomedical Innovation (NIBIO). His research on molecular dynamics simulations contributes to a better understanding of virus–host interactions and novel drug discovery.

  
  Shingo Iwami
  Nagoya University. Using mathematical models, he aims to understand viral infection dynamics at multiple levels, from cellular to individual and population.

  
  

  Yukinori Okada
  Tokyo University, Osaka University, RIKEN. Using large-scale genomic data and techniques of population genetics, he explores pathomechanisms of infectious diseases.

  
  

  Yuki Furuse
  Nagasaki University. As an expert in microbiology, clinical medicine, and epidemiology, he has traveled around the world to conduct public health and international health activities in outbreak situations.

Symposium5 [S5] 【English/Japanese】8:40-10:50, September 28 (Thu) Room 3

"Dynamism of aerosol and airborne infections"

• Introduction from chairs

  We in the infection control or the medical field have been confused by uncertain definitions of the concept of “airborne or aerosol transmission/infection”. However, in the science world, the concept of “aerosol” had already been established long ago. Through this symposium, we will be able to understand the “aerosol” and its extension, the “airborne or aerosol transmission/infection”, and learn its applications and practical facts.
  Although the each presentation is short presentation but all the talks will provide you with interesting views on the aerosol that you might not have previously known. Please enjoy the talks.

  1. Nobuyuki TAKEZAWA (Tokyo Metropolitan Univ. Japan)
     What is “the aerosol”? Dr Takegawa’s talk is on the fundamental concept of the aerosol. Furthermore, he will present topics on the process of evaporation of the water content of droplets that results in the decrease of the particle size to become aerosol particles. The size decrease might be associated with changes of the intra-particle environment, such as pH or concentrations of chemicals, which might cause the inactivation of a virus.
  2. Kazuhide ITO (Kyushu Univ. Japan)
     In aerosol transmission, the droplets emitted from the donor are mixed with the air of the exhaled breath and the environment and form the aerosol. The particles in the aerosol enter with inspiration into the body resulting in their sedimentation somewhere in the respiratory system. Dr Ito is generating very detailed 3D modeling of the human respiratory system and the mathematically calculated simulation on the movement of the aerosol particles using the Japanese best super computer, Fugaku, and will give us the process of the aerosol infection visually.
  3. Julian W Tang (Leicester Univ. UK)
     Dr. Tang is the one of the outstanding leaders in the “aerosol virology” from the standpoint of clinical virology. He was one of the main advocators among researchers worldwide that the COVID19 transmits via the airborne route and made the CDC and WHO recognize it after denying it for a long time. He will give us a concise review of actual examples of airborne infections such as COVID-19, influenza, measles, chicken pox, pulmonary tuberculosis and others.
  4. Motoya HAYASHI (Hokkaido Univ. Japan)
     Dr Hayashi is a specialist of the indoor air conditions and has performed field investigations of the places where clusters of patients occurred in COVID19 outbreaks, such as hospitals and large facilities. He will present actual conditions and situations that were found out by the investigation including stagnant air conditions and the state of actual airflow in relation to the occurrence of clusters. Please feel the dynamism of the airborne transmission.
  5. Teruya MAKI (Kinki Univ. Japan)
     The airborne infection/ aerosol infection is not exclusively for viral infections that we easily think of, such as measles and COVID-19. For example, fungal spores originated from forests are commonly floating in the urban area. They show great dynamism that easily cross borders and sometimes even cross a sea such as “Yellow sand”, the dust storms from the inner land of China. The air microbiology could provide us another fresh aspect of aerosol transmission. Dr. Maki is the leader of such a large-scale scientific field.

Sponsored Seminar 1 [SS1] 【Japanese】12:00-13:00, September 26 (Tue)Room 2

Chair：Hisashi Kawashima (Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Tokyo Medical University / Kohsei Chuo General Hospital)

SS1

RS virus vaccines
Kazuya Shirato (Department of Virology III, National Institute of Infectious Diseases)

Sponsored by Roche Diagnostics K. K.

Sponsored Seminar 2 [SS2] 【Japanese】12:00-13:00, September 26 (Tue)Room 3

Chair：Tetsuo Nakayama (Kitasato University Omura Satoshi Memorial Institute)

SS2

Clinical aspects of COVID-19
Norio Ohmagari (National Center for Global Health and Medicine Hospital Japan)

Sponsored by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

Sponsored Seminar 3 [SS3] 【English】12:00-13:00, September 26 (Tue)Room 4

Sponsored by JAPAN BIOSCIENCES CO., LTD.

Sponsored Seminar 4 [SS4] 【Japanese】12:00-13:00, September 27 (Wed)　Room 2

Epidemiology of current topical infectious diseases: acute hepatitis of unknown etiology and Mpox (monckeypox)

Chair：Hitoshi Oshitani (Department of Virology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine)

SS4-1

Severe Acute Hepatitis of Unknown Etiology in Children in Japan
Tomoe Shimada (Center for Field Epidemic Intelligence, Research and Professional Development (CFEIR), National Institute of Infectious Diseases)

SS4-2

Heavy-tailed sexual contact networks to understand the global mpox epidemiology
Akira Endo (School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University / London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine)

Sponsored by TAUNS Laboratories, Inc.

Sponsored Seminar 5 [SS5] 【Japanese】12:00-13:00, September 27 (Wed)　Room 3

Chair：Tadaki Suzuki (Department of Pathology National Institute of Infectious Diseases)

SS5-1

Joint research between academia and industry for an oral antiviral agent ensitrelvir
Michihito Sasaki (International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University / Institute for Vaccine Research and Development, Hokkaido University)

SS5-2

Vaccine Science and Design for its essential modules; antigen, delivery and adjuvant
Ken Ishii (Division of Vaccine Science, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo)

Sponsored by SHIONOGI & Co., Ltd.

Sponsored Seminar 6 [SS6] 【Japanese】12:00-13:00, September 27 (Wed)　Room 4

Chair：Hideo Asada (Department of Dermatology, Nara Medical University)

SS6

Update on Diagnosis and Treatment of herpes simplex virus infections
Tatsuyoshi Kawamura (Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi)

Sponsored by Maruho Co., Ltd.

Sponsored Seminar 7 [SS7] 【Japanese】12:00-13:00, September 28 (Thu)Room 2

Chair：Hidekazu Nishimura (Virus Research Center, National Hospital Organization Sendai Medical Center)

SS7

Infection risk assessment for the fight against COVID-19 on the supercomputer “Fugaku”
Makoto Tsubokura (Graduate School of System Informatics, Kobe University / RIKEN Center for Computational Science)

Sponsored by NIPRO Corporation

Sponsored Seminar 8 [SS8] 【Japanese】12:00-13:00, September 28 (Thu)Room 3

Chair：Yasuko Mori (Division of Clinical Virology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine)

SS8

Immune responses to viral infection and mRNA vaccination
Naoto Ishii (Microbiology and Immunology, Tohoku University School of Medicine)

Sponsored by Pfizer Japan Inc.