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Kawaoka Lab
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A virology lab that unravels how influenza and Ebola viruses cause disease.
AboutAbout the lab
Unraveling how viruses cause disease
The Division of Virology (Kawaoka Lab) studies how viruses cause disease.
Using influenza virus, Ebola virus, and the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) as models, the lab investigates what happens between virus and host, from the molecular level to the population level.
Using animal models, electron microscopy, and reverse genetics, the lab has identified mutations that determine differences in pathogenicity and clarified how virus particles are formed.
The lab also works on vaccine development and analysis of resistance to anti-influenza drugs.
Key terms
- Host
- The organism that a virus enters and multiplies in, such as humans, birds, and pigs
- Pathogenicity
- How strongly a virus causes disease. It differs by strain even within the same type of virus
- Reverse genetics
- A method of artificially assembling genes to create a virus with desired properties
NewsLab news
Phase I clinical trial of an inactivated Ebola vaccine confirms safety and immunogenicity
Evaluating the effect of antiviral drugs against highly pathogenic avian influenza H7N9
Host factors involved in influenza infection identified and published in Cell
Visiting Associate Professor receives Best Poster Presentation Award
Visiting Associate Professor receives Research Encouragement Award from the Japanese Society for Immunology
ResearchResearch themes
Focusing on influenza virus and Ebola virus, the lab studies how viruses multiply and what factors determine their pathogenicity. It advances analyses using animal models and electron microscopy, and also works on vaccine development and analysis of drug resistance.
*Illustrative imageAnalysis of a Novel Influenza Virus
For the novel swine-origin influenza virus that emerged in 2009, the lab characterized its properties through morphological analysis by electron microscopy and pathogenicity analysis in animal experiments. To prepare for the next pandemic, it continues to analyze key mutations.
*Illustrative imageMechanisms Determining the Pathogenicity of H5N1
Using animal models, the lab studies the mechanisms of high pathogenicity in H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, which shows a high fatality rate in humans. It found that a difference in a single amino acid of the PB2 protein, a component of the polymerase complex, changes pathogenicity.
*Illustrative imageSurveying the Epidemic Situation Overseas
In Vietnam, Indonesia, and other countries where H5N1 virus has become established, the lab conducts epidemiological surveys of infection in poultry, pigs, and humans together with local teams, and analyzes the origin and evolution of the virus.
*Illustrative imageAnalysis of Drug-Resistant Viruses
The lab analyzes how viruses resistant to the antiviral drugs used to treat influenza emerge. The spread of resistant viruses is thought to have a major impact not only in clinical settings but also on public health.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Division of Virology consist of faculty, visiting faculty and researchers, postdocs, collaborative researchers, academic specialist staff, temporary agency staff, and secretaries.As of 2026
- Project ProfessorYoshihiro KawaokaPublications ↗
- Project Associate ProfessorKiyoko Iwatsuki
- Project Assistant ProfessorMaki Kiso
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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: “Influenza A Virus (H3N )” NIAID / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Analysis of a Novel Influenza Virus: “Influenza A Virus (H1N1)-1” NIH Image Gallery / Public domain (cropped)
- Mechanisms Determining the Pathogenicity of H5N1: “Colorized transmission electron micrograph of Avian influenza A H5N1 viruses” Photo Credit: Cynthia Goldsmith Content Providers: CDC/ Courtesy of Cynthia Goldsmith; Jacqueline Katz; Sherif R. Zaki / Public domain (cropped)
- Surveying the Epidemic Situation Overseas: “Duck herding in harvested rice field, Vietnam” VinhNguyen.1257 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Analysis of Drug-Resistant Viruses: “Oseltamivir(Japan)” Pieria (Uploader and Photographer) / Public domain (cropped)
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