CONTACT INFORMATIONCREDENTIALSPUBLICATIONSToru Takimoto, D.V.M., Ph.D.Contact InformationPhone NumbersOffice: (585) 273-2856Fax: (585) 473-9573Research LabsVisit Lab WebsiteLocationsUniversity of Rochester Medical CenterSchool of Medicine and Dentistry601 Elmwood Ave, Box 672Rochester, NY 14642Faculty AppointmentsAssociate Professor - Department of Microbiology and Immunology (SMD) BiographyResearchRESEARCH ACTIVITIES Research project in progress The major areas of research in my laboratory are as follows: Molecular mechanism of paramyxovirus assembly: Efficient assembly and release of progeny virions from infected cells are major determinants of viral pathogenicity. Molecular mechanism of paramyxovirus assembly is not well understood. We are characterizing the trafficking of viral nucleocapsid to the site of assembly at the plasma membrane to understand the cellular machinery viruses utilize for assembly of progeny virions. URSMD Collaborators = Brian Ward, Minsoo Kim. Assembly of Influenza A viruses: Influenza viruses replicate and form nucleocapsid core in nuclei of infected cells. The progeny nucleocapsid cores are then transported to the plasma membrane budding sites. This study analyzes cellular and viral protein interactions required for the nuclear export of nucleocapsid and budding of progeny virions. URSMD Collaborators = Brian Ward Role of Influenza Virus Polymerase in Host Adaptation: We participate in the virology research team of the New York Influenza Center of Excellence (NYICE), which is part of the NIH Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance (CEIRS) network. Our focus is on the influenza virus RNA polymerase, and understanding how it contributes to host adaptation. We characterize the polymerase activities of avian and human strains, and identify residues and subunits of the polymerase complex important for the enhanced activity in mammalian hosts in vitro and in vivo. URSMD Collaborators = David Topham, John Treanor, Steve Dewhurst, Baek Kim.CredentialsEducation1986BS | Japan-Hokkaido University - SapporoVeterinary Medicine1988MS | Japan-Hokkaido University - SapporoMicrobiology1989DVM | Japan-Hokkaido University - SapporoVeterinary Medicine1994PhD | Japan-Hokkaido University - SapporoMicrobiologyPost-doctoral Training & Residency1990 - 1995Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TNPublicationsJournal Articles10/17/2022Lutz M, Schmierer J, Takimoto T. "Host adaptive mutations in the 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza A virus PA gene regulate translation efficiency of viral mRNAs via GRSF1." Communications biology.. 2022 Oct 17; 5(1):1102. Epub 2022 Oct 17. 11/27/2021Raymonda MH, Ciesla JH, Monaghan M, Leach J, Asantewaa G, Smorodintsev-Schiller LA, Lutz MM, Schafer XL, Takimoto T, Dewhurst S, Munger J, Harris IS. "Pharmacologic profiling reveals lapatinib as a novel antiviral against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro." Virology.. 2021 Nov 27; 566:60-68. Epub 2021 Nov 27. 9/2021Kurebayashi Y, Bajimaya S, Watanabe M, Lim N, Lutz M, Dunagan M, Takimoto T. "Human parainfluenza virus type 1 regulates cholesterol biosynthesis and establishes quiescent infection in human airway cells." PLoS pathogens.. 2021 Sep; 17(9):e1009908. Epub 2021 Sep 16. Books & Chapters2006 Chapter Title: Parainfluenza viruses. (version 2.0) Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 2006. Book Title: Encyclopedia of Life Sciences Author List: Takimoto T Published By: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 20062002 Chapter Title: Parainfluenza viruses. Nature Encyclopedia of Life Science. Nature Publishing Group. 2002. Book Title: Nature Encyclopedia of Life Science Author List: Takimoto T. Published By: Nature Publishing Group 2002VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONSClose WindowSchedule an appointment with Toru Takimoto, D.V.M., Ph.D.Please answer the following questions to help us find the right appointment for you.Important: If you believe that you have a medical or psychiatric emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. This website is not intended for emergency care.Have you seen this provider in the last 2 years?YesNoExisting Patient Schedule or request a follow up appointment online through MyChart. If you do not have a MyChart account, please close this window and call the appointment phone number. Toru Takimoto, D.V.M., Ph.D. is currently scheduling for the following appointment type(s): Our policy does not permit patients to establish care with multiple providers within the same practice or specialty without prior approval. If you choose a new provider in the same office, we will cancel the appointment. Please contact the office directly with questions on this policy.