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Attachment 1

"FY2013 Strategic International Research Cooperative Program (SICP)"
Japan-South Africa Research Exchange Projects

Project Title Japanese
Researcher
Position and Institution Abstract of Research Project
South African
Researcher
1 Protective and subversive mechanism of macrophage genes in Mycrobacterium tuberculosis infection Harukazu Suzuki Group Director,
Center for Life Science Technologies,
RIKEN
This collaborative research aims at identification and analysis of protective and subversive host genes in macrophage cells (one of the immune cells) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. Specifically, the Japanese researchers will be in charge of selection of target genes from the already obtained gene expression profiles, synthesis of materials for perturbation experiments and gene expression analysis, and the South African researchers will be in charge of Mtb infection experiments at cell or animal levels and sample preparation for gene expression analysis, which will uncover the role of candidate genes in mammals on macrophage activation, host protective mechanism, immune evasion and disease pathology. By working together, it is expected that we identify novel therapeutic targets against Mtb.
Frank Broumbacher Professor,
Division of Immunology,
Health Science Faculty,
University of Cape Town
2 The effects of HIV infection on pre-eclampsia Tadashi Konoshita Associate professor,
Faculty of Medical Sciences,
Fukui University
This collaborative research aims at evaluation of the effects of HIV infection and genetic variation in system such as of the renin–angiotensin system (a very important endocrine system that regulates blood pressure) on pre-eclampsia, a specific model for hypertension, which often causes serious symptoms such as convulsion and loss of consciousness and is prevalent in South Africa. Specifically, the Japanese researchers will be in charge of provision of techniques and knowledge for assays of genetic variants, and the South African researchers will be in charge of provision of subjects suffering from pre-eclampsia and clinical evaluation. By working together, it is expected that this project will contribute to development of a new interventional treatment for pre-eclampsia complicated by HIV infection through use of the genetic variants of the renin-angiotensin system.
Jagidesa Moodley Professor Emeritus,
School of Clinical Medicine,
University of KwaZulu-Natal
3 Genetic and pathogenic diversity of Pantoea ananatis strains Yuichi Takikawa Professor,
Graduate School of Science and Technology,
Shizuoka University
This collaborative research aims at understanding of the genetic and pathogenic diversity of Pantoea ananatis, an emerging pathogen which causes extremely damaging diseases in crops all over Japan and worldwide, including bacterial palea browning of rice and blight and rot of corn and other important crops. The Japanese researchers will focus on analysis of the plant reactions caused by different strains of P. ananatis and on clarification of the roles of specific genes involved in the pathogenesis. The South African researchers will perform comparative genome analyses of representative strains to pinpoint differences in their genetic structures. These analyses will complement each other to reveal a new mechanism of virulence and will contribute to quick diagnosis and prevention of important plant diseases.
Teresa Ann Coutinho Professor,
Department of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria

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