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 use it for understanding viral RNA synthesis,
assembly, virus-host cell interactions and generation of RVFV
vaccines.