It is a great pleasure to present Current Topics of Infectious Diseases in Japan and Asia. This is a memorable scienti? c publication for Showa University, prepared in conjunction with the 6th Annual Meeting, Showa International Symposium for Life Sciences, held at the university in 2009. This symposium was supported in part by Grants for the Pro- tion of the Advancement of Education and Research in Graduate School. On behalf of Showa University, it is a privilege to see the publication of this volume of scienti? c research articles for the advancement of knowledge about infectious diseases...