Dr.
Makino studies the molecular biology and host cell-virus interactions
of two different RNA viruses: severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
coronavirus (SCoV), and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV). SCoV is the
etiological agent of the recently emerged human respiratory disease,
SARS. The Makino group studies various aspects of SCoV-host cell
interactions, attempting to understand SCoV pathogenesis at the
molecular level. RVFV causes severe epidemics in ruminants and is also
recognized as a human pathogen. In humans, RVFV, a potential agent of
bioterrorism, can cause fever and myalgia, a hemorrhagic syndrome,
ocular disease, and encephalitis. His group has developed reverse
genetics system of RVFV and uses it for understanding viral RNA
synthesis, assembly, virus-host cell interactions and generation of RVFV
vaccines.
Search PubMed for Dr. Makino's publications