In our laboratory, we conduct research not only on paramyxoviruses but also on other respiratory viruses, including pneumoviruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus, as well as influenza viruses and coronaviruses. Influenza virus, RSV, and human metapneumovirus are expected to remain particularly important respiratory pathogens. Our main goal is to elucidate the mechanisms of replication and pathogenicity of these respiratory viruses at the molecular level.

Main Related Publications

1. Kitai Y, Watanabe O, Ohmiya S, Kisu T, Ota R, Kawakami K, Katoh H, Fukuzawa K, Takeda M, Nishimura H. Detailed analysis of low temperature inactivation of respiratory syncytial virus. Sci Rep. 14:11823, 2024.
2. Kitai Y, Sato K, Shirato K, Ohmiya S, Watanabe O, Kisu T, Ota R, Takeda M, Kawakami K, Nishimura H: Variation in thermal stability among respiratory syncytial virus clinical isolates under non-freezing conditions. Viruses 14:679, 2022.Link
3. Nao N, Saikusa M, Sato K, Sekizuka T, Usuku S, Tanaka N, Nishimura H, Takeda M: Recent molecular evolution of human metapneumovirus (HMPV): Subdivision of HMPV A2b strains. Microorganisms 8:E1280, 2020.
4. Nao N, Sato K, Yamagishi Y, Tahara M, Nakatsu Y, Seki F, Katoh H, Ohnuma A, Shirogane Y, Hayashi M, Suzuki T, Kikuta H, Nishimura H, Takeda M: Consensus and variations in cell line specificity among human metapneumovirus strains. PLOS ONE 14:e0215822, 2019.
5. Saikusa M, Nao N, Kawakami C, Usuku S, Sasao T, Toyozawa T, Takeda M, Okubo I: A novel 111–nucleotide duplication in the G gene of human metapneumovirus. Microbiol Immunol 61:507–12, 2017.
6. Saikusa M, Kawakami C, Nao N, Takeda M, Usuku S, Sasao T, Nishimoto K, Toyozawa T: 180–nucleotide duplication in the G gene of human metapneumovirus A2b subgroup strains circulating in Yokohama city, Japan, since 2014. Front Microbiol 8:402, 2017.
7. Sakai K, Ami Y, Nakajima N, Nakajima K, Kitazawa M, Anraku M, Takeyama I, Sangsriatanakul N, Komura M, Sato Y, Asanuma H, Takashita E, Komase K, Takehara K, Tashiro M, Hasegawa H, Odagiri T, Takeda M: TMPRSS2 independency for haemagglutinin cleavage in vivo differentiates influenaza B virus from influenza A virus. Sci Rep 6:29430, 2016.
8. Sakai K, Sekizuka T, Ami Y, Nakajima N, Kitazawa M, Sato Y, Nakajima K, Anraku M, Kubota T, Komase K, Takehara K, Hasegawa H, Odagiri T, Tashiro M, Kuroda M, Takeda M: A mutant H3N2 influenza virus uses an alternative activation mechanism in TMPRSS2 knockout mice by loss of an oligosaccharide in the hemagglutinin stalk region. J Virol 89:5154–5158, 2015.
9. Sakai K, Ami Y, Tahara M, Kubota T, Anraku M, Abe M, Nakajima N, Sekizuka T, Shirato K, Suzaki Y, Ainai A, Nakatsu Y, Kanou K, Nakamura K, Suzuki T, Komase K, Nobusawa E, Maenaka K, Kuroda M, Hasegawa H, Kawaoka Y, Tashiro M, Takeda M: The host protease TMPRSS2 plays a major role in in vivo replication of emerging H7N9 and seasonal influenza viruses. J Virol 88:5608–5616, 2014.
10. Shirogane Y, Takeda M, Iwasaki M, Ishiguro N, Takeuchi H, Nakatsu Y, Tahara M, Kikuta H, Yanagi Y: Efficient multiplication of human metapneumovirus in Vero cells expressing the transmembrane serine protease TMPRSS2. J Virol 82:8942–8946, 2008.
11. Takeda M, Leser GP, Russell CJ, Lamb RA: Influenza virus hemagglutinin concentrates in lipid raft microdomains for efficient viral fusion. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100:14610–14617, 2003.
12. Takeda M, Pekosz A, Shuck K, Pinto LH, Lamb RA: Influenza A virus M2 ion channel activity is essential for efficient replication in tissue culture. J Virol 76:1391–1399, 2002.
13. Lamb RA, Takeda M: Death by influenza virus protein. Nat Med 7:1286–1288, 2001.