<Photo from left to right: Researcher Sara P. Prayitno (Hallym University), Professor Won-Keun Kim (Hallym University), Professor Dong-min Kim (Chosun University), Professor Jin-won Song (Korea University)>

- Collaboration with Dong-min Kim, Chosun University College of Medicine and Jin-won Song, Korea University College of Medicine

- Identified the genotype and clinical characteristics of Hantavirus, the cause of post-nephrotic hemorrhagic fever in southern Korea for the first time

- Demonstrated new research methods for the epidemiology, diagnosis, and vaccine development of rodent-borne zoonotic diseases occurring around the world, and is expected to contribute to the establishment of a precise surveillance and response system.

□ A joint research team led by Prof. Won-Keun Kim, Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallim University (President Choi Yanghee ), Prof. Dong-min Kim, College of Medicine, Chosun University, and Prof. Jin-won Song, Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine (hereinafter referred to as the joint research team) published a research paper in February 2024 in Clinical Microbiology and Infection_IF: 14.2, a prominent international journal in the field of viral infectious diseases.

□ In this study, we identified the genotype and clinical characteristics of the causative agent Hantavirus for the first time. We obtained genomic information of hantaviruses from patients and mice with post-nephrotic hemorrhagic fever in Jeollanam-do, and found that southern hantaviruses have genotypes that are clearly distinct from hantaviruses found in the northern region of Korea, indicating that their genes are dynamically evolving.

□ Hantavirus is a dangerous cause of infectious disease that is transmitted from rodents to humans and causes post-renal hemorrhagic fever, resulting in kidney failure, hemorrhage, thrombocytopenia, and shock, and was first reported in the world in 1976 by Dr. Ho Wang Lee. According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Korea reports 300 to 500 cases of post-renal hemorrhagic fever every year, with northern Gyeonggi-do being the main risk area, and the southern province of Jeolla showing a high incidence rate of 54.94 to 55.96 per 100,000 people.

□ "Since 1976, when the world's first causative agent of post-excursion hemorrhagic fever was discovered in northern Gyeonggi-do, Korea, there has been a high incidence of post-excursion hemorrhagic fever in Korea, but the exact characteristics of the hantavirus have not been identified. In this study, we found that hantaviruses in Jeolla-do, the southern region of Korea, have distinctive characteristics from hantaviruses in Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do, the northern regions of Korea, and analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients with nephrotic syndrome hemorrhagic fever infected with southern-type hantaviruses." "The results of this study not only demonstrate new research methods for surveillance, diagnosis, and vaccine development for nephrotic syndrome hemorrhagic fever, a major rodent-borne zoonosis in Korea, but also suggest ways to precisely monitor and respond to rodent-borne zoonotic infectious diseases occurring around the world," said Dr. Kim.

□ "This significant achievement in the fight against zoonotic viruses was made possible by close collaboration between the U.S. and South Korea, as well as joint research with Prof. Dong-min Kim of Chosun University College of Medicine and Prof. Jin-won Song of Korea University College of Medicine," said Dr. Kim, adding, "This is an important example of the need for collaborative research to prepare for future zoonotic virus outbreaks."

Original article in Korean: 한림투데이 | 한림대학교 > 대학생활 > 미디어센터 > 한림투데이 (hallym.ac.kr)