Basic Research on the escape mechanism of intracellular parasites and the host response in infection

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Several bacterial and protozoan parasites are capable of escaping the intracellular killing of phagocytes and able to multiply inside macrophages. Using intracellular parasites including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Legionella pneumophila, Yersinia spp., Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania major, we have attempted to analyze the molecular mechanisms of intracellular prasitism and the immunological responses to those parasitic microorganisms with special reference to the expression of host defense against infection in the host.In the present study, genes and proteins involved in the escape from phagocyte killing could be identified in some species of bacteria. Some kinds of endogenous cytokines were revealed to be important in the activation of macrophages and induction of antigen-specific T cell-dependent protective immunity. In a model of protozoan infection, analysis on the relationship between the induction of heat-shock protein and the expression of protective immunity resulted in the further understanding of the mechanism of defense.The results obtained in this project will be useful in the up-to-date understanding of the host-parasite relationship and may pave the way to the development of novel vaccine against intracellular parasites in the future.