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Departments, Offices, and Branch Laboratory
Departments, Offices, and Branch Laboratory
Department of Microbiology
| The Department of Microbiology consists of three divisions. Its major services include microbiological testing and research work designed to prevent the development of infectious diseases and food poisoning outbreaks and also the incidence of health damages due to food-contaminating microorganisms, under the Law Concerning the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Patients with Infectious Diseases and the Food Sanitation Law. In particular, the department is involved in development of new testing methods for newly emerged and re-emerged infectious diseases such as enteric hemorrhagic Escherichia coli 0157 infection or severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). A system that is ready to rapidly control the diseases exists. The department also provides basic knowledge on current topics related to infectious diseases and microorganisms on its homepage. It publishes "Infectious Diseases Weekly Report, Tokyo" and "Monthly Epidemiological Record, Tokyo" that has information on epidemic incidence supplied from the test results of this Institute, health centers, and medical institutions. |
The Division of Food Microbiology examines and researches the development of pathogenic bacterial testing and test methods for at least 20 kinds of bacteria, including enteropathogenic E. coli, Campylobacter, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Salmonella, to elucidate the cause for food poisoning outbreaks in Tokyo and to prevent them from occurring and spreading. It also conducts testing of bacteria and fungi (mold) in commercial foods such as milk, meat, seafood, and vegetables to ensure that are safe. Recently, genetic diagnostic technology has been actively introduced to the pathogenic evaluation or epidemiological analysis (the investigation of the infection route) of detected bacteria.
The Division of Clinical Microbiology examines and researches 1) pathogenic bacteria such as invasive group A streptococcal infection, bacterial meningitis, diphtheria, whooping cough, and other than those that coused by intestinal infectious diseases; 2) sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and genital chlamydia infection; 3) parasites that infect through various kinds of food such as vegetables, meat, and seafood and water; 4) infectious diseases derived from animals (zoonosis) such as pets.
The Section of Epidemiological Information, which functions as Tokyo Infectious Disease Surveillance Center (TIDSC), provides various types of information on pathogens and public health, such as trends of the incidence of infectious diseases, via the reports and Internet.
The Division of Virology conducts isolation testing and genetic testing of viruses that cause respiratory infectious diseases, such as influenza and SARS, and testing of diarrhea-causing viruses, such as Norovirus that causes food poisoning . Research designed to prevent such incidences is done, as well. It also conducts testing and research on various pathogenic viruses and Rickettsia, such as 1) West Nile virus and dengue virus , 2) HIV, 3) papilloma virus, 4) hepatitis virus (types A, B, C, and E), and 5) Rickettsia, which causes trombiculosis or Q fever.
[Relationship with Tokyo citizens]
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