We elucidate the mechanisms by which viruses multiply in cells and cause disease by searching for the host factors involved and analyzing their interactions with viral factors. For measles virus and closely related animal viruses (e.g., canine distemper virus), we elucidate pathogenicity by analyzing interactions between viral receptor binding proteins (H proteins) and host cell receptor proteins (SLAM and Nectin-4). We also elucidate the mechanism of viral RNA synthesis by analyzing the function of chaperone proteins (Hsp70 and Hsp90) that interact with mumps virus RNA polymerase. Furthermore, we analyze various other host factors.

Main Related Publications

1. Liu Y, Katoh H*, Sekizuka T, Bae C, Wakata A, Kato F, Sakata M, Yamaji T, Wang Z, Takeda M: SNARE protein USE1 is involved in the glycosylation and the expression of mumps virus fusion protein and important for viral propagation. PLOS Pathogens published online, 2022.
   
2. Takeda M*, Seki F, Yamamoto Y, Nao N, Tokiwa H: Animal morbilliviruses and their cross–species transmission potential. Curr Opin Virol 41:38–45, 2020.
3. Katoh H*, Sekizuka T, Nakatsu Y, Nakagawa R, Nao N, Sakata M, Kato F, Kuroda M, Kidokoro M, Takeda M: The R2TP complex regulates paramyxovirus RNA synthesis. PLOS Pathog 15:e1007749, 2019.
4. Katoh H*, Kubota T, Nakatsu Y, Tahara M, Kidokoro M, Takeda M: Heat shock protein 90 ensures efficient mumps virus replication by assisting with viral polymerase complex formation. J Virol 91:e02220–16, 2017.
5. Katoh H*, Kubota T, Kita S, Nakatsu Y, Aoki N, Mori Y, Maenaka K, Takeda M, Kidokoro M: Heat shock protein 70 regulates degradation of the mumps virus phosphoprotein via the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. J Virol 89:3188–3199, 2015.
6. Rota P*, Moss WJ, Takeda M, de Swart RL, Thompson KM, Goodson JL: Measles. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2:16049, 2016.