2026年 7月 Student Monthly Progress を開催しました

7月26日 (金)にStudent Monthly Progressが開催されました。3名の大学院生が研究内容について発表しました。

 

【Presenters】

1. OHSUGI Yuki : Laboratory of Parasitology

<Serological Evidence and Influencing Factors of Tick-Borne Virus Infections in Wild Birds near Sapporo, Hokkaido>

 

2. RAUTENBACH Ilana : Laboratory of Toxicology

<Environmental Dust as an Indicator of Anthropogenic and Geogenic Trace Metal Contamination in the Erongo Region, Namibia>

 

3. SUGIURA Hayato : International Institute for Zoonosis Control

<Comprehensive Evaluation of the Antiviral Activities of Viral Entry Inhibitors against Filoviruses>

 

 

【Chairs】

MIMURA Yume : Division of Risk Analysis and Management

OBENG-KYEREMEH Richard : Division of Biologics Development

 

 

 

 

 ❖座長レポート❖ 

 

《Serological Evidence and Influencing Factors of Tick-Borne Virus Infections in Wild Birds near Sapporo, Hokkaido》

OHSUGI Yuki

 

 

Wild birds may contribute to the long-distance dispersal of tick-borne viruses (TBVs), but their exposure to TBVs in Asia remains poorly understood. This study investigated the seroprevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Yezo virus (YEZV) in wild birds in Hokkaido, Japan. From June to August 2025, blood samples were collected from wild birds captured at Nakayama-Pass and Hitsujigaoka and screened for neutralizing antibodies. Factors associated with seroprevalence were evaluated using generalized linear models. Neutralizing antibodies against TBEV and YEZV were detected in four and five passerine species, respectively, with seroprevalences of 3.7% (6/161) and 9.2% (11/119). Seroprevalence of both viruses was higher at Nakayama-Pass. TBEV seroprevalence was significantly higher among birds breeding exclusively at high elevations, whereas YEZV seroprevalence tended to be higher in females. This study provides the first serological evidence of wild-bird exposure to TBEV and YEZV in Japan and suggests that virus-specific ecological factors influence exposure.

 

 

《Environmental Dust as an Indicator of Anthropogenic and Geogenic Trace Metal Contamination in the Erongo Region, Namibia》

RAUTENBACH Ilana

 

 

Environmental dust in Namibia reflects both natural and human inputs and can act as an important indicator of trace metal contamination, yet information on indoor dust exposure in the country remains limited. Ilana's study aims to quantify trace metal concentrations in indoor household and roadside dust samples collected from three towns (Arandis, Swakopmund, and Walvis Bay) in the Erongo region, assess contamination severity against geogenic background levels using pollution indices, and screen for potential health risks to residents. Indoor household dust generally exceeded roadside dust in trace metal concentrations, except for vanadium, which was higher in roadside samples. Further statistical analyses, pollution indices, and health risk assessment will follow. This study is expected to provide baseline data on dust-associated contamination in an arid urban-industrial environment and to demonstrate how indoor dust can act as an environmental indicator for trace elements.

 

 

 《Comprehensive Evaluation of the Antiviral Activities of Viral Entry Inhibitors against Filoviruses》

 SUGIURA Hayato

 

 

Approved treatments for filovirus infections remain limited, and most entry inhibitors have been evaluated primarily against Ebola virus. Hayato’s study aimed to identify broad-spectrum antiviral candidates by testing ten previously reported entry inhibitors against all currently recognized mammalian filoviruses. Replication-incompetent GFP-expressing vesicular stomatitis viruses pseudotyped with the glycoproteins of 11 filoviruses were used to assess antiviral activity in Vero E6 cells. Seven compounds inhibited all tested filoviruses, although activity was generally weaker against Marburg virus and related viruses than against orthoebolaviruses. Three compounds, referred to in this report as Compound X, Compound Y and Compound Z, showed strong inhibitory activity. Compound X showed particularly strong inhibitory activity against Ebola, Bundibugyo, and Bombali viruses, while Compound Y and Compound Z demonstrated strong activity against multiple orthoebolaviruses, including the three viruses mentioned above. This study suggests Compounds X, Y and Z are promising broad-spectrum candidates and that conserved residues may contribute to their inhibitory profiles.