University of Tokyo

RNA Virology and Resistance Mechanisms in Shirako Lab
Tolerance Mechanisms
Asian Natural Environmental Science Center (ANESC)
(= Asian Center for Bioresources and Environmental Sciences)
Japanese / English

Members:
Professor = SHIRAKO Yukio, Dr.
Graduate Research Student = LI Fuangai
Graduate student M2 = CHOI Jimyung
Graduate student M2 = KUSAKA Masatoshi
Staff = SHIRAKO Junko

Ph.D. theses from this lab / Lab pictures

Research project:
Most plant viruses contain RNA as the genetic material. Infected plants develop mosaic or yellow leaves, and often do not grow as well as uninfected plants, reducing the quality and quantity of the products. Among animal viruses, there are more varieties of virulent RNA viruses than those containing DNA genome. In our laboratory, we study three subjects in the area of RNA virology and molecular and cellular biology; (1) virus genome structure, mutation and adaptation to hosts, (2) mechanisms of viral RNA replication and transcription, and (3) virus/host interactions and pathogenicity, using animal and plant RNA viruses which appear to have a common evolutionary origin. Specific viruses we are currently studying include (1) alphaviruses in the family Togaviridae which have a genome organization similar to tobacco mosaic virus and have a broad host range in the animal kingdom, (2) Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus, the type species of the genus Furovirus, which occurs widely in wheat-growing countries and is transmitted by a soil-inhabiting microorganism in nature and (3) Barley yellow mosaic virus and Wheat yellow mosaic virus in the genus Bymovirus in the Picornavirus superfamily.

Publications:
Plant virus projects
Alphavirus project
Yeast project
Other collaborative projects

Course:
Graduate School Seminar/Virology Journal Club
Every Wednesdays. From 1:00 pm. At Room 214 in Building No.1 of College of Agriculture (Yayoi Campus).

Office and Student/Staff Room:
Room No. 633 in Building No. 7B
Labs:
Room No. 634 in Building No. 7B and Room No. 219 in Building No. 1

Mailing address:
Asian Center for Bioresources and Environmental Sciences (ANESC)
University of Tokyo
1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku
Tokyo 113-8657, JAPAN
Phone: +81-3-5841-8880
Office FAX: +81-3-5841-7524
Student/Staff phone/FAX: +81-3-5841-8036
Lab phone: +81-3-5841-8494
e-mail: yshirako@mac.com, yshirako@anesc.u-tokyo.ac.jp

University of Tokyo
ANESC
AE-Bio (Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology)

Updated on March 2, 2012.