Assistant Professor Mai Izumida

Speciality / Research theme / Keywords

Infectious diseases, Tuberculosis, Genetic engineering, Immunology, Chronic infections, Molecular biology, Translational research

Supervision

Masters ProgrammeDoctoral Programme

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Medicine
• Board-certified General Internist
• Board-certified Infectious Disease Specialist

Background

I graduated from the School of Medicine, Nagasaki University in 2007 and entered the Department of Medicine at the Institute of Tropical Medicine. I earned my Ph.D. in 2016 from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, with a focus on host-pathogen interactions.
From 2022 to 2024, I served as a postdoctoral researcher in the TB Immunology group at the MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), within the Vaccine and Immunity department.

Teaching

I am involved in clinical education in infectious diseases at Nagasaki University Hospital and Nagasaki University, mentoring medical students and junior physicians.

Research

While working as an ID consultant at the bedside, I also conduct research as a physician-scientist, focusing on how chronic infections affect the human immune system using molecular biology techniques.
During my time at the MRC Unit The Gambia, I engaged in research on tuberculosis immunology, particularly host immune factors and mechanisms involved in TB diagnosis and disease progression prediction.

The country/countries where you work currently

Japan, The Gambia, and  Philippines

Five MOST IMPORTANT/INTERESTING recent publications

1. Izumida M, Jobe H, Coker EG, Barry A, Rashid M, Manneh IL, Daffeh GK, Ariyoshi K, Sutherland JS. HBHA Induces IL-10 from CD4+ T Cells in Patients with Active Tuberculosis but IFN-γ and IL-17 from Individuals with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection. Front Immunol. 2024: 15: 1422700.

2. Izumida M, Kakoki K, Hayashi H, Matsuyama T, Kubo Y. Rab3a, a Small GTP-Binding Protein, Is Required for the Stabilization of the Murine Leukaemia Virus Gag Protein. Small GTPases. 2022; 13(1): 162–182.

3. Izumida M, Kotani O, Hayashi H, Smith C, Fukuda T, Suga K, Iwao M, Ishibashi F, Sato H, Kubo Y. Unique Mode of Antiviral Action of a Marine Alkaloid against Ebola Virus and SARS-CoV-2. Viruses. 2022; 14 (4): 816.

4. Izumida M, Hayashi H, Smith C, Ishibashi F, Suga K, Kubo Y. Antivirus Activity, but Not Thiolreductase Activity, Is Conserved in Interferon-Gamma-Inducible GILT Protein in Arthropod. Mol Immunol. 2021;140: 240–249.

5. Izumida M, Hayashi H, Tanaka A, Kubo Y. Cathepsin B Protease Facilitates Chikungunya Virus Envelope Protein-Mediated Infection via Endocytosis or Macropinocytosis. Viruses. 2020; 12 (7): 722.

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