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Kobayashi Lab
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The lab explores how pathogenic viruses such as rotavirus work and how they can be put to use.
AboutAbout the lab
Mastering the study of viruses
The Viral Immunology Division (Kobayashi Lab) studies viruses of the order Reovirales, such as rotavirus and bat-derived reovirus, and norovirus of the family Caliciviridae.
Using reverse genetics, a technique for artificially constructing and manipulating viral genes, the lab investigates how viruses replicate and how they cause disease.
The lab is also considering research that puts viruses to use, such as developing virus-based therapeutics and vaccine vectors.
The lab is located in the Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, and accepts graduate students from the Graduate School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences.
Key terms
- Reverse genetics
- A technique for artificially synthesizing a virus from its genes and modifying those genes to examine its properties
- Oncolytic virus
- A virus that replicates selectively in tumor cells and lyses them. Its application to cancer treatment is being studied
- Zoonosis
- An infectious disease that can pass from animals to humans and from humans to animals
NewsLab news
Assistant Professor Kotaki received an Excellence Award at a CAMAD presentation event
Project Assistant Professor Minami received the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science's Encouragement Award for Veterinary Science for FY2026-2027
A doctoral student received an Outstanding Presentation Award in the young investigator presentation session at the 94th General Meeting of the Wakayama Medical Society
A paper by Assistant Professor Kawagishi was published in PLoS Pathogens
A paper by a doctoral student was published in PLoS Pathogens
ResearchResearch themes
This lab studies viruses of the order Reovirales (rotavirus, mammalian orthoreovirus, bat-derived reovirus, and others) and norovirus of the family Caliciviridae. Using techniques for manipulating viral genes, it investigates how viruses replicate and how they cause disease.
*Illustrative imageArtificial synthesis and analysis of rotavirus
Rotavirus is a virus that causes severe diarrhea in humans. The lab succeeded in developing a method to synthesize it artificially, and is using this technology to analyze rotavirus.
*Illustrative imageReplication and pathogenicity of norovirus
Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis, but the development of effective vaccines and treatments has not progressed sufficiently. The lab has developed an artificial synthesis system using zebrafish, and uses it to analyze the replication mechanism and pathogenicity.
*Illustrative imageDevelopment of oncolytic reovirus
Mammalian orthoreovirus replicates selectively in tumor cells with activating Ras mutations and lyses them. The lab is modifying its genes to develop safer oncolytic viruses with greater therapeutic effect.
*Illustrative imageHighly pathogenic bat-derived reovirus
Bats attract attention as natural hosts of many viruses that cause zoonoses. The lab studies the replication mechanism and pathogenesis of a bat-derived reovirus found in patients with severe respiratory symptoms, aiming to establish methods of prevention and treatment.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Viral Immunology Division (Kobayashi Lab) are faculty, visiting faculty, doctoral and master's students, technical assistants, and secretaries.As of 2026
- ProfessorTakeshi Kobayashi
- Assistant ProfessorTomohiro Kotaki
- Assistant ProfessorTakahiro Kawagishi
- Project Assistant ProfessorShohei Minami
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Multiple rotavirus particles” Dr Graham Beards / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Artificial synthesis and analysis of rotavirus: “Rotavirus TEM B82-0337 lores” 作者不詳 / Public domain (cropped)
- Replication and pathogenicity of norovirus: “Norovirus” Charles D. Humphrey, USCDCP / CC0 (cropped)
- Development of oncolytic reovirus: “Circulating tumor cells - en” Fabi Fuu 76 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Highly pathogenic bat-derived reovirus: “Sri Lankan vesper bat” AntanO / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Matsura Lab): “Hepatitis C” NIH Image Gallery / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Horii Lab): “Plasmodium falciparum smear” Paulo Henrique Orlandi Mourao / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Tetsuya Lab): “TCBS agar plate of Vibrio Cholerae and vibrio parahaemolyticus” Chainwit. / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Virus Vaccine Group): “Electron micrograph of smallpox virus” Dr Graham Beards / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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