Akatsuki Saito will present his work on “Non-human primate models for viral infections”

Thursday the 25th of September, at 11am in la salle des Thèses Chantal Rabourdin-Combe, ENS de Lyon.

Abstract:
Due to their physiological and genetic similarities to humans, non-human primates (NHPs), such as rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys, serve as indispensable models for evaluating vaccines and therapeutics, as well as for studying the pathogenesis of human viral infections. However, not all viruses that cause human diseases replicate efficiently or manifest comparable pathologies in macaques. Therefore, understanding virus–host interactions, often referred to as the “arms race,” is critical for the rational development of primate models.

The host range of HIV-1, the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), is extremely narrow, with productive replication occurring only in humans and chimpanzees. For many years, the reason why HIV-1 fails to replicate in macaque cells remained unclear. About two decades ago, several host cellular factors that restrict HIV-1 replication in macaque cells were identified. Among these, tripartite motif-containing protein 5α (TRIM5α) was found to be a major anti-HIV-1 restriction factor in macaque cells. TRIM5α potently inhibits HIV-1 replication after viral entry by blocking uncoating and subsequent reverse transcription.

Subsequent studies clarified the functional domains of viral proteins that interact with these HIV-1 restriction factors and elucidated their molecular mechanisms. These insights facilitated the development of HIV-1 variants capable of replicating in macaque cells, known as macaque-tropic HIV-1. During these studies, we found that specific genetic backgrounds have a strong influence on susceptibility to macaque-tropic HIV-1. This finding has enabled the prediction of viral susceptibility, thereby contributing to the establishment of more accurate and reliable animal models.

Furthermore, our laboratory is actively utilizing animal models for other viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, hepatitis B virus, and Zika virus. In addition to human viral infections, we are also investigating viral diseases in animals.
In this seminar, he will also introduce his ongoing collaborative studies on domestic cat hepatitis B virus in partnership with Dr. David Durantel (INSERM), as well as his joint research on retroviruses in sheep and goats with Dr. Jocelyn Turpin and Dr. Caroline Leroux. 

More about Akatsuki:
Dr. Akatsuki Saito, D.V.M., Ph.D is an Associate Professor of Veterinary Microbiology at the University of Miyazaki. Dr. Saito has led his research group since 2019. His work focuses on the ongoing “arms race” between viruses and their hosts to develop reliable animal models for studying human viral diseases. After earning his Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo, he conducted postdoctoral research with Dr. Hirofumi Akari at the Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, and Dr. Masahiro Yamashita at the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Rockefeller University, in the United States.

Dr. Saito’s research is distinguished by its integration of reverse genetics—a technique that enables the artificial synthesis of viruses from plasmids—with advanced animal models. This interdisciplinary approach combines molecular virology, veterinary science, and primatology. By employing reporter viruses in animal experiments, his team can track viral dynamics in vivo and isolate virus-infected cells using high-precision cell sorting, enabling diverse applications in both basic and translational research.

Host : PR2T team IVPC & HEPVIR team CIRI