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Identification of Anti-Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Substances and Development of HCV and Dengue Vaccines

Infectious Diseases Control

Republic of Indonesia

Finished

Identification of Anti-Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Substances and Development of HCV and Dengue Vaccines

Creating Drugs from Plants and Microorganisms to Combat Hepatitis C and Dengue Fever

Principal Investigator

- Prof.
  HOTTA Hak
  Graduate School of Medicine/School of Medicine, Kobe University

ODA Recipient Country

Republic of Indonesia

Research Institutions in Japan

Kobe University / National Institute of Biomedical Innovation (NIBIO)

Research Institutions in Counterpart Country

University of Indonesia (UI) / Airlangga University (AU) / Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI)

Adoption fiscal year

FY 2009

Research Period

4 Years

Overview of the Research Project

Technical cooperation to confront two rampant infectious diseases
Although an estimated 170 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), no HCV vaccine has yet been developed. Dengue fever too is feared to be spreading beyond tropical zones. New treatment and prevention measures for these two infectious diseases are urgently required. This project aims to develop antiviral drugs that are effective against HCV from endemic Indonesian and Japanese plants and microorganisms, and also aims to use genetic engineering to develop vaccines for HCV and dengue.

New plant- and microorganism-derived hepatitis C drugs and vaccines created using genetic engineering
We have discovered anti-HCV substances effective against HCV in plants and microorganisms from both countries, and are investigating in detail the mechanisms by which these substances inhibit HCV growth. We have also developed a HCV DNA vaccine and dengue vaccine that are safer and that provide strong immunity against HCV and dengue virus. We have also developed an HCV treatment vaccine that can be administered orally using Bifidobacterium longum.

Photo gallery

Collecting traditional medicinal plants in remote parts of Indonesia

Researchers are using the latest technologies to isolate candidate substances with antiviral properties from plants traditionally used in many different parts of Indonesia to treat diseases, and to identify useful natural compounds.