RESEARCH

For the public

In our laboratory, we study how the body’s defense system protects us from disease. We focus especially on T cells, a type of immune cell that helps the body find and fight infections and cancer. We want to better understand how these cells recognize infected or abnormal cells and respond quickly to eliminate them. By building this knowledge, we aim to support the development of better vaccines and new immune-based treatments for infectious diseases and cancer.

For researcher

Understanding how human cytotoxic T cells recognize and eliminate virally-infected cells

Our laboratory investigates how human cytotoxic T cells recognize virus-infected cells and eliminate them. By studying the mechanisms of antigen recognition by these immune cells, we aim to better understand how the human immune system detects and controls viral infections.
Through this work, we have recently made several important discoveries in the context of COVID-19. These include identifying mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 variants evade immune responses, characterizing vaccine-induced T-cell responses against emerging variants, and discovering highly functional T-cell populations that are strongly induced in the Japanese population. Building on these findings, we are now expanding our research to explore T-cell responses to a broader range of viral infections, with the ultimate goal of contributing to improved vaccines and immunotherapies.

  • Motozono, C. et al. Cell Host & Microbe 29(7):1124-1136.e11., 2021.
  • Motozono, C* et al. Nature Communications 13(1):5440, 2022.
  • Goto, Y#., Ahn, YM#., Gras, S*., Motozono, C* et al. Nature Communications, 16(1):8062, 2025.
  • Nakama, T., Wall, A#., Dolton, G#. Sewell, AK*, Motozono, C.* et al. JCI insight, in press, 2026

Understanding antigen recognition by human innate-like T cells that recognize non-peptidic ligands

Conventional human cytotoxic T cells recognize short antigenic peptides (8–14 amino acids) derived from pathogen proteins presented by HLA (human leukocyte antigen) molecules. However, recent research has revealed a distinct group of human innate-like T cells—such as γδ T cells, MAIT cells, and NKT cells—that detect abnormal metabolites or molecular signatures rather than pathogen-derived antigens. These cells play an important role in sensing metabolic disturbances and early signs of infection or cellular stress.
In our recent work, we identified a population of innate-like T cells that respond to components derived from probiotics. Remarkably, these cells are capable of recognizing and killing tumor cells.
Building on these findings, we aim to extend this research to infectious diseases. By elucidating the T-cell receptors expressed by functional human innate-like T cells and identifying their corresponding ligands, we hope to contribute to the development of novel vaccine adjuvants, vaccines, and innovative immunotherapies.

  • Shibata, K, Motozono, C., et al. Nature Communications, 13(1):6948, 2022.
  • Goto, Y#., Dolton, G#., Tomita, Y*., Sewell, AK*, and Motozono, C*. Frontiers in Immunology, In press, 2026.

Development of engineered T-cell antigens to induce functional immune responses

We are developing novel T-cell–based vaccine strategies by treating antigens recognized by human T cells as a new therapeutic modality. By rationally modifying these antigens so that they can be more
efficiently recognized by T cells, we aim to induce strong and functional immune responses.
Through this approach, we seek to design next-generation vaccines capable of eliciting robust T-cell immunity against infectious diseases and other pathological conditions.
In the future, through international collaboration with the University of Oxford, we aim to integrate artificial intelligence (AI)–based approaches to rationally design functional T-cell responses and
establish a next-generation vaccine platform.

  • Aritsu, Y, Motozono, C*., et al. Frontiers in Immunology, In press, 2026.