title: [Collaboration between Korea and Japan for basic research on leprosy].
abstract: New case detection in Japan has been markedly decreased and same trends have been also shown in Korea. Despite of unfavorable circumstances, research activities are still continuing and we have the accumulation of knowledge on leprosy both in Japan and Korea. Following basic studies for leprosy on going in Japan were reviewed. 1. Analysis of drug resistance mechanism and its application for clinical samples. 2. Establishment of early diagnostic technique. 3. Clarification of mechanisms of neuropathy. 4. Analysis of in vivo growth mechanisms of Mycobacterium leprae. 5. Molecular epidemiology of leprosy. 6. Searching for new anti leprosy drugs. 7. Developing vaccine. 8. In vitro cultivation. Other subjects as follows was proposed as prospective studies. 1. Mechanisms of relapse. 2. Establishing diagnostic tool of reaction and preventive measures. 3. Clarification of immunological mechanisms of anergy in LL case. The possibility of future collaboration between Korea and Japan to solve remaining problems in the clinical field was discussed and a course of action for collaboration was deliberated.
authors.affiliation: Leprosy Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan. matsuoka@nih.go.jp
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D055808:Drug Discovery; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007723:Korea; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D051379:Mice; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine