The Dept. of Infectious and Tropical Diseases aims to promote translation of innovative research into health impact against infectious and tropical diseases.

The department's research areas cover the fields of pathogenic biology, epidemiology, and determinants of One Health to control and predict zoonotic events.

In biology—pathogen and vector biology, three research areas mainly focusing on malaria and tick-borne diseases are included.

First, studies on pathogen-host interactions by using modern biological technologies of nucleic acid, protein, and cell, based on molecular and cellular biology, immunology, genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics. These studies include: (i) mechanisms of pathogenic infection and invasion to susceptible hosts; (ii) phenotype and functional analysis of host immune cells susceptible to pathogens; (iii) assessment of pathogenic molecules involved in mechanisms of host immune evasion; and (iv) characterization of blood-stage molecules—antigen/epitopes for the development of diagnostics and vaccines.

Second, studies on vector biology by using advanced molecular tools for the characterization of vector and vector-borne pathogens, especially in ticks.

Third, studies on diagnostics and its application in the field, including (i) population molecular/immunological screening approach, (ii) application and evaluation of rapid diagnostic tests, (iii) evaluation strategy for diagnostics under certification for control programmes, and (iv) application of molecular detection technologies of pathogens in vectors.

In epidemiology, two study areas are concerned: disease control strategy, monitoring and prediction technology of malaria and neglected tropical diseases.

First, studies on disease control strategies related to intervention evaluation. They are: (i) elimination strategy-related interventions in various settings; (ii) analysis of various intervention strategies on control programmes; (iii) evaluation of approaches in changes of the transmission patterns after different interventions; (iv) transmission determinants with the changes in humans, animals, and the environment, by using the One Health approach.

Second, studies on monitoring and predicting technology to be used in risk assessment and prediction of transmission patterns. These include: (i) risk assessment approaches supported by epidemic data; (ii) correlation between temporospatial distribution and transmission intensity; (iii) prediction of transmission patterns by modeling supported by data; and (iv) establishment and evaluation of risk model for the spread patterns of tropical diseases using spatial analysis techniques, e.g., GIS, RS, and GPS.

Regarding determinants of the One Health to global control and prevention of infectious and tropical diseases, two research areas are under consideration.

First, assessment of performance for global One Health index (GOHI) for zoonoses.

Second, determinants of the “zoonotic” SARS-CoV-2 with a focus on identification and characterization of blood-stage markers associated with long COVID-19.