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Infectious Disease Drug Discovery Science Lab (Research Institute for Microbial Diseases)
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A lab that investigates the mechanisms of emerging viruses such as Lassa virus.
AboutAbout the lab
Investigating how viruses replicate and how they cause disease
The Division of Infectious Disease Drug Discovery Science studies emerging viral infectious diseases as the Iwasaki Lab of the Research Institute for Microbial Diseases.
It focuses in particular on Lassa virus, which has a high fatality rate and for which there are no established treatments or preventive methods.
Using methods from virology, immunology, molecular biology, RNA biology, bioinformatics, and chemical biology, the lab aims to elucidate how viruses replicate and how they cause disease.
Based on the findings, the lab also works on developing new diagnostic methods, treatments, and preventive methods.
Key terms
- Lassa virus
- The virus that causes Lassa fever, a fatal hemorrhagic fever. There are no established treatments or preventive methods
- Poly(A)
- A sequence added to the 3' end of mRNA. It is not added to the mRNAs of viruses in the family Arenaviridae
- mRNA vaccine
- A vaccine that uses mRNA encoding a viral protein. Some examples induce both antibodies and cytotoxic T cells
NewsLab news
View More ↗ResearchResearch themes
Targeting emerging viruses, centered on Lassa virus, the lab aims to elucidate how viruses replicate and how they cause disease. Based on the findings, the lab also works on developing new diagnostic methods, treatments, and preventive methods.
*Illustrative imageTranslational Control Independent of Poly(A)
The lab found that the mRNAs of viruses in the family Arenaviridae are not polyadenylated, and that the 3'-UTR lacking poly(A) controls translation efficiency. Based on this, the lab is working on developing live attenuated vaccines and building a molecular basis for viral vectors, and is now investigating the mechanism in more detail.
*Illustrative imageHost Factors That Support Viral Replication
Viruses cannot replicate on their own and require the machinery of host cells. Using genetic engineering methods, the lab identifies host factors involved in the replication of Lassa virus and analyzes their functions.
*Illustrative imageSearching for Antiviral Drugs
Handling Lassa virus requires a containment facility of the highest level. The lab therefore carries out screening, without using the virus, to find compounds that suppress transcription and replication, and works on elucidating their mechanisms of action and obtaining more potent inhibitors.
*Illustrative imagemRNA Vaccine for Lassa Virus
Inducing cell-mediated immunity is important for controlling Lassa virus. Believing that mRNA vaccines could be an effective way to do this, the lab is engaged in the research and development of new mRNA vaccines.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Iwasaki Lab consist of faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students, technical staff, and secretaries.As of 2026
- Project Associate ProfessorMasaharu Iwasaki
- Project Assistant ProfessorMei Hashizume
- Project Assistant ProfessorRyotaro Noda
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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.
- Top image: “Lassa Virus” NIAID / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Translational Control Independent of Poly(A): “Lassa virus virions TEM 8699 lores” Content Providers(s): CDC/ C. S. Goldsmith, D. Auperin Photo Credit: C. S. Goldsmith Copyright Restrictions: None - This image is in the public domain and thus free of any copyright restrictions. As a matter of courtesy we request that the content provider be credited and notified in any public or private usage of this image. / Public domain (cropped)
- Host Factors That Support Viral Replication: “Lassa virus” 作者不詳 / Public domain (cropped)
- Searching for Antiviral Drugs: “HI-Virus Replication Cycle ( )” NIAID / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- mRNA Vaccine for Lassa Virus: “Solo-mrna-vaccine-8” Spencerbdavis / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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