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Background & Objectives
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Recently humans are facing the threat of emerging and re-emerging zoonoses
in the world. Pathogens of zoonoses are microorganisms which have
perpetuated in wildlife reservoirs for many years in nature. Recent
drastic changes in the earth environment caused disturbances of ecology
of reservoir hosts, introduction of the agents into new hosts, and further
dissemination within the new host populations, resulting in outbreaks of
a variety of infectious diseases. Risks of invasion of emerging zoonoses
into Japan are increasing more and more in accordance with the increased
international travel and commerce such as importation of meat and meat
products, feeds, wild animals, and pets. Prompt planning of research
projects for the control of zoonoses is needed in the subjects of diagnosis,
epidemiological information, detection of reservoir animals, and vaccine
development. Immediate arrangements for research organization and
training of personnel to be specialists for zoonosis control are required.
The long-term goals of this COE program are the prevention and control of
zoonoses. To achieve the goals, the aims of the present program are:
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| 1) |
To elucidate the ecology of zoonotic
pathogens, |
| 2) |
To detect the reservoir host and the
route of transmission of each pathogen, |
| 3) |
To define the gene sequences that permit
interspecies transmission of agents among animals including
humans, |
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To clarify the molecular basis of pathogenisity
of each agent for each of animals, |
| 5) |
To develop rapid methods for diagnosis
of zoonoses and detection of the agents, |
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To establish international networks
for global surveillance of zoonoses, |
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To scheme contingency plans for the
prevention and control of zoonoses, |
| 8) |
To provide training courses for personnel
who conduct control management at the sites of disease outbreaks,
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To exchange personnel between different
laboratories in the world in order to develop new strategies
for the control of zoonoses, and |
| 10) |
To establish International Collaboration
Centers for Zoonosis Control by 2008. |
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| In order to achieve above described aims, experts from Graduate School of
Veterinary Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, and Research Institute
of Genetic Medicine collaborate in promoting researches and education for
zoonosis control. We promote researches and education in cooperation
with leading research organizations across the world, exchanging information
and techniques, as well as establishing six research and education centers
overseas. |
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| For five years (2003-2008), efforts should be focused on establishing of
preventive and control measures of BSE, West Nile fever, influenza, SARS,
rabies, echinococcosis, tick-borne encephalitis, and hantavirus infection.
We wish to establish “International Collaboration Centers for Zoonosis
Control” in the future. The center plays the core role
for international contribution through research and education to protect
humans from zoonoses. |
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Education and Research Networks
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 Educational Plan |
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(C) Copyright 20032006. Hokkaido University.COE Program. All Rights Reserved.
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