A research project has been awarded a JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B).

Molecular Basis Determining the Host Range, Antigenicity, and Cross-Species Transmission of Morbilliviruses

Funding Program: JSPS KAKENHI – Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
Principal Investigator: Makoto Takeda
Project Period: April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2029

This project aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that determine the host range and cross-species transmission of morbilliviruses. We will integrate analyses of the species specificity of the viral receptors SLAM (CD150) and nectin-4, the membrane fusion mechanism mediated by the viral hemagglutinin (H) and fusion (F) proteins, the remarkable antigenic stability characteristic of measles virus, and the innate immune evasion strategies mediated by the viral V protein.

By revealing how these molecular mechanisms interact to govern species-specific susceptibility and viral adaptation, this study will establish a comprehensive framework for understanding the determinants of host specificity. The findings are expected to provide a scientific basis for assessing the emergence risk of novel morbilliviruses and for developing strategies to predict and control future zoonotic transmission events.

https://kaken.nii.ac.jp/ja/grant/KAKENHI-PROJECT-26K02253/