VALID8

 

Manabu Ato

Dr Manabu Ato is Director of Mycobacteriology, Leprosy Research Centre, National Institute of Infectious Diseases since 2017. Manabu's research covers a diverse area within infectious diseases, including leprosy, tuberculosis (especially new TB vaccine), non-tuberculous mycobacterial diseases (including leprosy), melioidosis, and immune responses against intracellular pathogens. His current role is responsible to ensure that the

World Leprosy Day

Department’s vision, mission, and strategic objectives are achieved. He oversees the research and operations of the Centre’s various laboratories.

In this special VALID8 for World Leprosy Day 2023, Manabu talks about the mysterious Mycobacteria lerprae, the need to be vigilant, and his work creating a vaccine that would not only help fight leprosy but other pathogens.

1 - What do you do/what do you research?

My colleagues and I work for the development of a new TB vaccine and basic and translational research on leprosy and non-tuberculosis mycobacterium including Buruli ulcer.

​​​​2 - What do you tell non-scientists you do?

I tell them that we should keep our eyes wide open for TB and leprosy even if the incidence of those diseases are diminishing in developed countries.

3 - What drew you to studying vaccines?

BCG is currently the only available vaccine for TB (and may be effective for other mycobacterial diseases including leprosy), but its efficacy is not sufficient.

4 - Why is your work on Leprosy vaccines important and what could your work lead to?

A vaccine that is targeting only leprosy would be not very beneficial to leprosy control. We need to take a broad view of things considering host immune responses against mycobacteria infections (or multi-mycobacteria targeted vaccine). This approach is important to take problems on leprosy such as persons with risk of leprosy onset and/or leprosy reactions.
 

5 - What is the most interesting thing you have learned about leprosy?

Leprosy seems to be one of the most difficult infectious diseases in the world ever. There are so many unanswered scientific questions in bacteria, host responses, and clinical aspects, arising in 1873 (just 150 years ago!) when leprosy was known as an infectious disease.

6 - What is the best part of your job?

This is to have a scientific achievement, which could contribute to people who suffer from infectious diseases to medical staff who wish for patients’ cures, and to young researchers who would love to see how scientific approaches can solve unanswered medical questions.

7 - What is the most challenging part of your job or leprosy research?

Mycobacterium leprae is an unculturable bacteria in vitro for 150 years since its discovery. Cracking this hardest of nuts is the most challenging issue for me at present.

8 - Why are vaccines important?

The vaccine is one of the most beneficial tools to control infectious diseases. However, we should keep in our mind that a vaccine is administrated to healthy populations but not patients. Their efficacy and safety must be carefully evaluated.

“Vaccinology” is not a field of science but a technology. We have been looking at so many unsuccessful vaccine candidates even though they seemed to be reasonable from the point of view of science. Therefore, no one can predict what antigen with what modality ought to be selected for a promising vaccine. It would be fun for me to imagine the day when an effective vaccine is designed under “scientific” strategies.

Find out more

You can find more about Manabu's research on his VALIDATE biography page.

There are more fascinating interviews with members of our extensive network of researchers on our VALID8? page. This is an ongoing series, so check back regularly. If you are a member and would like to take part, you can email your answers to the following questions along with a captioned picture of your day-to-day work to validate@ndm.ox.ac.uk.