Research Theme

• Research and development of novel nucleic acid adjuvants
• Analysis of innate immune memory induced by stimulation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands

Keyword

• Adjuvant
• Cytotoxic T cells
• Innate immune memory

Overview of Research

• Adjuvants that enhance the immune effect of vaccines are important for vaccine development in preparation for pandemics caused by emerging infectious diseases. As cellular immunity plays a major role in viral infection, enhancement of cellular immune responses is one of the effects required for adjuvants. We will evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel nucleic acid adjuvant that we have developed, which are safe and have excellent ability to induce cellular immunity, by adding them to influenza and corona virus infection vaccines.
• The formation of immune memory occurs not only in acquired immune cells but also in innate immune cells. Stimulation of TLR ligand is known to induce innate immune memory. An administration of the novel nucleic acid adjuvant, a TLR3 ligand, alone is expected to have a preventive effect against a wide range of infectious diseases. We aim to elucidate the mechanism of innate immune memory formation by treatment with this adjuvant.