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Immunology and Microbiology Lab
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The lab investigates how the immune system works through the lens of glycans, aiming to develop new therapies.
AboutAbout the lab
Uncovering how the immune system works through glycans.
The Immunology and Microbiology Lab studies how the immune system works, focusing on the roles of glycans.
Combining immunology, microbiology, and glycobiology, it clarifies the workings of the immune system at the molecular level.
It aims to apply this knowledge to developing treatments for allergies, inflammatory diseases, infections, cancer, and other conditions that arise when these mechanisms break down.
Key terms
- Glycan
- A chain of many linked sugars. Attached to proteins and other molecules, it is involved in processes such as cell-cell recognition.
- Homing
- The mechanism by which lymphocytes circulating in the blood return to specific sites such as lymph nodes.
- Mucin
- The main component of mucus in the intestine and elsewhere; a protein with many glycans attached. It forms a barrier that protects the mucosa.
NewsLab news
A paper from the lab was selected as an Editor's Choice in International Immunology
A student received the Student Excellent Presentation Award at the 144th Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
ResearchResearch themes
Focusing on the functions of glycans in the immune system, the lab investigates at the molecular level how lymphocytes migrate through the body and how adaptive immune responses occur. Using mice deficient in glycan-synthesizing enzymes and its own anti-glycan antibodies, it also works on developing treatments for Japanese cedar pollinosis and elucidating how colitis develops.
*Illustrative imageLymphocyte trafficking and glycans
Using mice in which the genes for glycan-synthesizing enzymes have been deleted, the lab examines in detail the roles of glycans in homing, in which lymphocytes return to lymph nodes, and in adaptive immune responses.
*Illustrative imageNovel anti-glycan antibodies
Using a method it developed itself, the lab produces highly specific anti-glycan antibodies. It aims to apply these antibodies to artificially controlling lymphocyte movement and immune responses, detecting disease markers, and drug delivery technologies.
*Illustrative imageNew treatments for Japanese cedar pollinosis
The lab focuses on the unique glycans attached to Cry j 1, the major allergen of Japanese cedar pollen. It examines how these glycans affect immune responses and tests whether Cry j 1 with modified glycans can induce immune tolerance, aiming to establish a foundation for developing therapeutics.
*Illustrative imageHow colitis develops
The lab has reported that sulfation of the glycans on mucins, which form the mucus of the large intestine, helps prevent colitis. Using mice that lack a sulfation enzyme and develop worse colitis, it analyzes the molecular mechanisms of disease onset.
MembersFaculty
The Immunology and Microbiology Lab consists of faculty members, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and technical assistants.As of 2026
- ProfessorHiroto Kawashima
- Associate ProfessorHiroko Nakatsukasa
- Assistant ProfessorAkihiro Maenaka
- Project Assistant ProfessorNoriko Suzuki
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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: “Immunology and Regenerative Medicine Research Laboratory - University of Calcutta - Ballygunge - Kolkata” Biswarup Ganguly / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Lymphocyte trafficking and glycans: “Normal Lymph Node” Ed Uthman, MD / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Novel anti-glycan antibodies: “Antibody IgG1 surface” Tokenzero / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- New treatments for Japanese cedar pollinosis: “Misc pollen colorized” Dartmouth Electron Microscope Facility, Dartmouth College / Public domain (cropped)
- How colitis develops: “Laboratory microcentrifuge tubes and pipette tips 02” Gannu03 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (感染制御学): “Sphingobacterium antimicrobial susceptibility testing pattern” Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (薬効薬理学): “Fluorescence.microscope2” Bioguy10 / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (理論創薬): “CSIRO ScienceImage 1788 Molecular model of a protein” division, CSIRO / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (生物薬剤学): “Atenolol tablets (UK)” Whispyhistory / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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