KO KO

Last Updated :2025/04/03

Affiliations, Positions
Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences(Medical), Assistant Professor
E-mail
kkohiroshima-u.ac.jp
Self-introduction
I am Ko Ko, from Myanmar and entered PhD course at department of Epidemiology, Infectious Disease Control and Prevention under supervision of Professor Junko TANAKA in 2016 and graduated in 2020. My background is medical doctor and after my graduation, I joined as the assistant professor at the same department in 2020.

Basic Information

Major Professional Backgrounds

  • 2020/11/01, 2021/03/31, Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Assistant Professor (Special Appointment)
  • 2021/04/01, Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Assistant Professor

Educational Backgrounds

  • Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences , Japan, 2016/10, 2020/09
  • University of Medicine 2, Yangon, Myanmar, 2002/12, 2009/02

Academic Degrees

  • PhD (Medical Sciences), Hiroshima University

Educational Activity

  • [Bachelor Degree Program] School of Medicine : Program of Medicine : Medicine
  • [Master's Program] Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences : Division of Integrated Health Sciences : Program of Public Health
  • [Master's Program] Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences : Division of Integrated Health Sciences : Program of Biomedical Science
  • [Doctoral Program] Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences : Division of Integrated Health Sciences : Program of Biomedical Science
  • [Doctoral Program] Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences : Division of Biomedical Sciences : Program of Medicine

Research Fields

  • Biology;Biological Science;Molecular biology
  • Medicine,dentistry, and pharmacy;Society medicine;Epidemiology and preventive medicine
  • Medicine,dentistry, and pharmacy;Society medicine;Hygiene and public health

Research Keywords

  • epidemiology, surveillance, prevention, control, infectious disease, molecular, genomes, viral hepatitis, health services, public health

Educational Activity

Course in Charge

  1. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , First Semester, Seminar
  2. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Second Semester, Seminar
  3. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , First Semester, Research
  4. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Second Semester, Research
  5. 2025, Graduate Education (Doctoral Program) , First Semester, Advanced Seminar
  6. 2025, Graduate Education (Doctoral Program) , Second Semester, Advanced Seminar
  7. 2025, Graduate Education (Doctoral Program) , First Semester, Advanced Research
  8. 2025, Graduate Education (Doctoral Program) , Second Semester, Advanced Research
  9. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 2Term, Basic Biostatistics and Basic Clinical Statistics
  10. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , First Semester, Research on Public Health (Epidemiology)
  11. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Second Semester, Research on Public Health (Epidemiology)
  12. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , First Semester, Research on Public Health (Biostatistics)
  13. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Second Semester, Research on Public Health (Biostatistics)
  14. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , First Semester, Basic Epidemiology and Practice
  15. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Second Semester, Basic and Advanced Training on Methodology for Clinical Research
  16. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , First Semester, Exercise and Seminar on Epidemiological Research and It's Analysis
  17. 2025, Graduate Education (Doctoral Program) , First Semester, Advanced Seminar on Epidemiology,Infectious Disease Control and Prevention
  18. 2025, Graduate Education (Doctoral Program) , Second Semester, Advanced Seminar on Epidemiology,Infectious Disease Control and Prevention
  19. 2025, Graduate Education (Doctoral Program) , First Semester, Advanced Research on Epidemiology,Infectious Disease Control and Prevention
  20. 2025, Graduate Education (Doctoral Program) , Second Semester, Advanced Research on Epidemiology,Infectious Disease Control and Prevention
  21. 2025, Graduate Education (Doctoral Program) , Second Semester, Basic and Advanced Training on Methodology for Clinical Research

Research Activities

Academic Papers

  1. Knowledge of hepatitis B infection, hepatitis B vaccine, and vaccination status with its associated factors among healthcare workers in Kampot and Kep Provinces, Cambodia, BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 24(1), 20240701
  2. Systematic review and meta-analysis of hepatitis E seroprevalence in Southeast Asia: a comprehensive assessment of epidemiological patterns, BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 24(1), 20240524
  3. Epidemiological assessment of hepatitis E virus infection among 1565 pregnant women in Siem Reap, Cambodia using an in-house double antigen sandwich ELISA, Hepatology Research, 20240404
  4. Dried blood spot-based host genome analysis technique targeting pathological associations with hepatitis B: Development and clinical application in the Cambodian population, Hepatology Research, 53(12), 1147-1155, 20230731
  5. The impact of COVID-19 on hepatitis B and C virus prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in Bangladesh compared with Japan and the global perspective, BMC Health Service Research, 23, 20231023
  6. Variant-specific symptoms after COVID-19: a hospital-based study in Hiroshima, JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY, 34(5), 238-246, 202405
  7. Natural course of post-COVID symptoms in adults and children, SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 14(1), 20240216
  8. Quantitative Measurement of the SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody and Surrogate Neutralizing Antibody Responses among mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine-Inoculated Medical Staff in Designated Medical Institutions for Infectious Diseases, kansenshogakuzasshi, 96(2), 52-55, 2022
  9. Accuracy Management survey of nucleic acid amplification tests using inactivated SARS-CoV-2 in Hiroshima Prefecture, Hiroshima Journal of Medical Science, 71(3.4), 1-5, 202212
  10. Despite low viral titer in saliva samples, Sanger-based SARS-CoV-2 spike gene sequencing is highly applicable for the variant identification, BMC MEDICAL GENOMICS, 16(1), 20230824
  11. Residual risk of mother-to-child transmission of HBV despite timely Hepatitis B vaccination: a major challenge to eliminate hepatitis B infection in Cambodia, BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 23(1), 20230426
  12. Intermediate hepatitis B virus infection prevalence among 1622 pregnant women in rural Burkina Faso and implications for mother-to-child transmission, SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 13(1), 20230414
  13. Prevalence of fatty liver and advanced fibrosis by ultrasonography and FibroScan in a general population random sample, HEPATOLOGY RESEARCH, 52(11), 908-918, 202211
  14. Seroepidemiological study of factors affecting anti-spike IgG antibody titers after a two-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in 3744 healthy Japanese volunteers, SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 12(1), 20220929
  15. A longitudinal study of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in a random sample of the general population in Hiroshima in 2020, Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 27, 20220707
  16. Effect of COVID-19 on hepatitis B and C virus countermeasures: Hepatologist responses from nationwide survey in Japan, Hepatology Research, 20220805
  17. Epidemiology of Viral Hepatitis C: Road to Elimination in Japan, Global Health and Medicine, 3(5), 262-269, 20210813
  18. Epidemiological assessment of interventions to eliminate mother-to child transmission of hepatitis B virus in Japan, GastroHep, 3(2), 72-79, 20210106
  19. Dried Blood Spot-based detection of serological profiles of hepatitis B and C infections and their prevalence in Cambodia, GastroHep, 3(4), 247-253, 20210602
  20. Prevalence of fatty liver and advance fibrosis by ultrasonography and fibroscan in a general population random sample, Hepatology Research, 20220805
  21. Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in the general population evaluated by a resident-register-based epidemiological study, JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY, 57(8), 540-546, 202208
  22. Prevalence and genotype distribution of viral hepatitis B in Cambodia between 1990 and 2020: a systematic review and meta-analysis, ARCHIVES OF PUBLIC HEALTH, 80(1), 20220413
  23. Exercising the Sanger Sequencing Strategy for Variants Screening and Full-Length Genome of SARS-CoV-2 Virus during Alpha, Delta, and Omicron Outbreaks in Hiroshima, VIRUSES-BASEL, 14(4), 202204
  24. Distribution of FIB-4 index in the general population: analysis of 75,666 residents who underwent health checkups, BMC GASTROENTEROLOGY, 22(1), 20220513
  25. Sequential dynamics of virological and serological changes in the serum of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients, JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, 94(4), 1734-1737, 202204
  26. Mass Screening of SARS-CoV-2 Variants using Sanger Sequencing Strategy in Hiroshima, Japan, SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 12(1), 20220214
  27. A seroepidemiological survey of the effect of hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B and C virus infections among elementary school students in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Hepatology Research, 48(3), E172-E182, 20180201
  28. Trends in the total numbers of HBV and HCV carriers in Japan from 2000 to 2011, Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 25(4), 363-372, 20180401
  29. Natural course of persistent hepatitis B virus infection in hepatitis B e antigen-positive and hepatitis B e antigen-negative cohorts in Japan based on the Markov model, Journal of Medical Virology, 90(12), 1800-1813, 20181201
  30. The pilot study for health check-ups system at elementary school in Cambodia, Hiroshima Journal of Medical Sciences, 67(3), 83-92, 20180901
  31. Incidence rates of hepatitis C virus infection among blood donors in Japan: a nationwide retrospective cohort study, Transfusion, 58(12), 2880-2885, 20181201
  32. Acquisition rate of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen among medical and dental students in Japan after three-dose hepatitis B vaccination, Vaccine, 37(1), 145-151, 20190103
  33. Very low prevalence of anti-HAV in Japan: high potential for future outbreak, Scientific Reports, 9(1), 20191201
  34. Hepatitis B surface antigen seroprevalence among pre- and post-vaccine cohorts in Cambodia, 2017, Vaccine, 37(35), 5059-5066, 20190814
  35. Countermeasures against viral hepatitis B and C in Japan: An epidemiological point of view, Hepatology Research, 49(9), 990-1002, 20190901
  36. High possibility of hepatocarcinogenesis in HBV genotype C1 infected Cambodians is indicated by 340 HBV C1 full-genomes analysis from GenBank, Scientific Reports, 9(1), 20191201
  37. The changing epidemiology of hepatitis B and C infections in Nanoro, rural Burkina Faso: A random sampling survey, BMC Infectious Diseases, 20(1), 20200115
  38. Evaluation of the efficiency of dried blood spot-based measurement of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus seromarkers, Scientific Reports, 10(1), 20201201
  39. ★, Existence of hepatitis B virus surface protein mutations and other variants: Demand for hepatitis B infection control in Cambodia, BMC Infectious Diseases, 20(1), 20200425
  40. Substitution of the CD81 binding site and b-sandwich area in E2 of HCV in Cambodia, Viruses, 12(5), 20200501
  41. Eighteen-year follow-up cohort study on hepatitis B and C virus infections related long-term prognosis among hemodialysis patients in Hiroshima, Journal of Medical Virology, 92(12), 3436-3447, 20201201
  42. Molecular characterization and the mutation pattern of SARS-CoV-2 during first and second wave outbreaks in Hiroshima, Japan, PLoS ONE, 16(2 February), 20210201
  43. Prevalence of total hepatitis A antibody among 5 to 7 years old children and their mothers in Cambodia, Scientific Reports, 11(1), 20211201
  44. Relationship between drinking frequency and fatty liver prevalence or incidence in Japanese undergoing health checkup in 2008-2019, Liver International, 20210101
  45. Epidemiologic profile of hepatitis C virus infection and genotype distribution in Burkina Faso: a systematic review with meta-analysis, BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 21(1), 20211101

Invited Lecture, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation

  1. Disease Burden of Viral Hepatitis B and C in 2020, Japan with a view to elimination, Ko K, Tanaka J, The Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the liver, Kyoto, Japan, 2024/03/29, Without Invitation, English
  2. HBV Vaccination Status and Associated Factors Among Healthcare Workers in Kampot and Kep, Cambodia, Sok S, Chhoung C, Man S, Nhea B, Ko K, Sugiyama A, Akita T, Tanaka J, The Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the liver, Kyoto, Japan, 2024/03/28, Without Invitation, English
  3. HCV Transmission among Japan limited Risk Groups, Zayar P, Ko K, Sugiyama A, Akita T, Takahashi K, Tanaka S, Sakamori R, Tanaka J, The Asian Pacific Association for the Study of Liver, Kyoto, Japan, 2024/03/28, Without Invitation, English
  4. Prevalence of Anti-HDV Among 67 HBsAg positive Pregnant Women in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Golda A, Ko K, Bunthen E, Ouoba S, Sugiyama A, Akita T, Takahashi K, Tanaka J, The Asian Pacific Association for the Study of Liver, Kyoto, Japan, 2024/03/28, Without Invitation, English
  5. Seroprevalence of enteric hepatitis A and E viruses among general residents in Binh Thuan, Chhoung C, Ko K, Zayar P, Akuffo G, Mirzaev Ulugbek M, Suzuki R, Do HS, Sugiyama A, Akita T, Takahashi K, Tanaka J, The Asian Pacific Association for the Study of Liver, Kyoto, Japan, 2024/03/29, Without Invitation, English
  6. Enhancing HEV diagnostic testing in resource-limited settings: development and evaluation of an in-house elisa method for seroprevalence estimation in cambodia, Mirzaev UK, E B, Ouoba S, Ko K, Sugiyama A, Akita T, Takahashi K, Tanaka J, American Association for the Study of Liver Disease 2023, Boston, USA, 2023/11/10, Without Invitation, English
  7. Exploring hepatitis C virus transmission among people who inject drugs and men who have sex with men: Rare and limited risk groups in Japan, Phyo Z, Ko K, Sugiyama A, Akita T, Takahashi K, Tanaka S, Sakamori R, Tanaka J, American Association for the Study of Liver Disease 2023, Boston, USA, 2023/11/10, Without Invitation, English
  8. Investigating cross transmission of hepatitis C virus among rare and limited risk groups in Japan, Phyo Z, Ko K, Sugiyama A, Akita T, Takahashi K, Tanaka S, Sakamori R, Tanaka J, APASL STC Conference 2023, Busan, South Korea, 2023/09/21, Without Invitation, English
  9. A Newly Developed In-house Double Antigen Sandwich ELISA for Detection of Anti-HEV IgG among Pregnant Women in Cambodia, Mirzaev UK, E B, Ouoba S, Ko K, Sugiyama A, Akita T, Takahashi K, Tanaka J, APASL STC Conference, Busan, South Korea, 2023/09/21, Without Invitation, English
  10. Seroprevalence and risk factors of hepatitis E virus infection among pregnant women attending three hospitals in Siem Reap, Cambodia., 29. Mirzaev UK, E B, Ouoba S, Ko K, Sugiyama A, Akita T, Takahashi K, Tanaka J, JSH International Liver Conference, 2023/09/07, Without Invitation, English
  11. Anti-HDV prevalence among 67 HBsAg-positive pregnant women in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Japan Society of Hepatology International Conference, Tokyo, Japan, 2023/09/07, Without Invitation, English, published
  12. Effectiveness of Tenofovir prophylaxis for the prevention of Mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B in Burkina Faso, Ouoba S, Ko K, Ligani M, Chhoung C, Phyo Z, Sugiyama A, E B, Hussain MRA, Guingane A, Sanou M, Akita T, Takahashi K, Tino H, Tanaka J, Conference on liver disease in Africa (COLDA), 2023/09/09, Without Invitation, English
  13. Prevalence of total hepatitis A antibody among 5 to 7 years old children and their mothers in Cambodia, 2021/07/10, Without Invitation, English, published
  14. The sero-epidemiological study on the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among the pregnant women and their newborn baby in Cambodia, 2021/12/09, Without Invitation, Japanese, published
  15. Change in trend of anti-HAV prevalence among 5-7 years old children and their mother in Cambodia: 2017 Nationwide random sampling strategy, 2021/06/18, Without Invitation, English, published
  16. Modeling Disease Burden of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Japan, 56th the international liver congress 2021 (EASL), 2021/06/23, Without Invitation, English, published
  17. Sero-epidemiological evaluation for micro-elimination of viral hepatitis in three model areas in Hiroshima, JSH International Liver Conference 2021 Pioneering New Frontier in Liver Cancer -From Bench to Bedside and Beyond, 2021/10/03, Without Invitation, English, preprint
  18. The relationship between the frequency of drinking and incidence of fatty liver in Japanese cohort undergoing health checkups during the period 2008-2019 , EASL Digital NAFLD Summit 2021, 2021/09/16, Without Invitation, English, published
  19. Simulation for burden of hepatitis B and C in Japan until 2030, under the appearance of drug curable HBV, JSH International Liver Conference 2021 Pioneering New Frontier in Liver Cancer -From Bench to Bedside and Beyond, Fukuoka, 2021/10/03, Without Invitation, English, published
  20. Total number of HCV patients treated with DAAs in Japan using IQVIA database from 2014 to 2019, AASLD The Liver Meeting 2021, USA, 2021/11/15, Without Invitation, English, published
  21. Prevalence of fatty liver and advanced fibrosis by using ultrasonography and fibroscan in a random sample of the general population, AASLD The Liver Meeting 2021, USA, 2021/11/15, Without Invitation, English, published
  22. Genotype distribution and mutation pattern linked to liver disease progression among chronic hepatitis B carriers in Goto Islands, Japan, APASL(Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver 2022), South Korea, 2022/03/31, Without Invitation, English, published
  23. Prevalence and genotype distribution of hepatitis B among pregnant women in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, APASL(Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver 2022), South Korea, 2022/03/31, Without Invitation, English, published
  24. Assessment of COVID-19 Response on Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus prevention and treatment from nationwide survey in Japan, APASL(Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver2022), South Korea, 2022/03/31, Without Invitation, English, published
  25. Eighteen years follow-up large cohort study on Epidemiology of hepatitis C among Hemodialysis patients, their long-term prognosis and related risk factors, HCV Meeting 2019, 2019/10/08, Without Invitation, English, Seoul, South Korea
  26. Existence of hepatitis B surface protein mutations and other variants: Demand for hepatitis B infection control in Cambodia, Takahashi K, Nagashima S, Yamamoto C, Ork V, Sugiyama A, Akita T, Ohisa M, Chuon C, Md Hossain S, Mao B, Tanaka J, APASL (Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver 2020), 2020/03/06, Without Invitation, English, Bali, Indonesia
  27. Dried blood spots are a useful tool for hepatitis A screening in the pandemic areas with medical resource-limited condition, Yamamoto C, Tanaka J, Ork V, Nagashima S, Chuon C, Mao B, Shafiqul Hossain M, 55th the international liver congress 2020 (EASL), 2020/08/27, Without Invitation, English
  28. Existence of hepatitis B virus surface protein mutations and other variants: demand for hepatitis B infection control in Cambodia, Takahashi K, Nagashima S, Yamamoto C, Ork V, Sugiyama A, Akita T, Ohisa M, Chuon C, Md Hossain S, Mao B, Tanaka J, 16th Symposium of the Hiroshima Liver Project Research Centre, 2020/10/10, Without Invitation, English

Awards

  1. 2024/03/29, the Presidential Award-The 33rd Annual Meeting of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver, Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Transmission among Japan's Limited Risk Groups, President, APASL 2024 Kyoto-The Center of Hepatology The 33rd Annual Meeting of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver
  2. 2022/09/02, Investigator Award, President, the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) Oncology 2022 Takamatsu, The Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among the Pregnant Women and Their Newborn Babies in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia
  3. 2022/09/02, Investigator Award, President, the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) Oncology 2022 Takamatsu, Sero-epidemiological study on HBV and HCV infection in elderly care facility staff and residents in Japan

External Funds

Acceptance Results of Competitive Funds

  1. KAKENHI(Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists), 2023, 2025
  2. SmaSo-X Challenge Project Young Researchers Research Grant, Validation on capability and effectiveness of Dried Blood Spot sampling tool for detection of total anti-HEV antibodies using in-house double antigen Sandwich ELISA, 2024/04/01, 2025/03/31
  3. Young Researcher, Prevalence and Genotype Distribution of HDV using in-house developed ELISA in both serum and dried blood spots samples of pregnant women and their newborns in Siem Reap, Cambodia, 2023, 2025
  4. KAKENHI(Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up), Molecular characterization, its mutation pattern and the molecular surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Hiroshima, 2021, 2022

Social Activities

Other Social Contributions

  1. World Hepatitis Day awareness activities, World Hepatitis Day awareness activities, Contribution, Others, General
  2. Hiroshima University and University of Glasgow International Seminar, Hiroshima University and University of Glasgow International Seminar, Organizing Member, Seminar or workshop, Researchesrs
  3. JSPS Core-to-Core Program Asia-Africa Science Platforms Viral Hepatitis Elimination in Japan: Interactive Dialogue with Dr. John Ward, JSPS Core-to-Core Program Asia-Africa Science Platforms Viral Hepatitis Elimination in Japan: Interactive Dialogue with Dr. John Ward, Organizing Member, Seminar or workshop, Researchesrs
  4. JSPS Core-to-Core Program Asia-Africa Science Platforms laboratory Training on PCR, JSPS Core-to-Core Program Asia-Africa Science Platforms laboratory Training on PCR, Organizing Member, Seminar or workshop, Researchesrs
  5. JSPS Core-to-Core Program Asia-Africa Science Platforms International Seminar, JSPS Core-to-Core Program Asia-Africa Science Platforms International Seminar, 2024/02/23, 2024/02/23, Contribution, Seminar or workshop, Researchesrs
  6. JSPS core to core Science Platform seminar, joint with Cambodia, Burkina Faso, Uzbekistan, JSPS core to core Science Platform seminar, joint with Cambodia, Burkina Faso, Uzbekistan, 2022/03/18, 2022/03/18, Advisor, Meeting or assembly, Researchesrs
  7. JSPS core to core Science Platform seminar, joint with Cambodia, Burkina Faso, Uzbekistan, JSPS core to core Science Platform seminar, joint with Cambodia, Burkina Faso, Uzbekistan, 2021/12/08, 2021/12/08, Advisor, Meeting or assembly, Researchesrs
  8. Impact of COVID-19 response over viral hepatitis countermeasures, joint with US CDC, Impact of COVID-19 response over viral hepatitis countermeasures, joint with US CDC, 2021/11/16, 2021/11/16, Advisor, Meeting or assembly, Researchesrs
  9. HCV Elimination in Mongolia, HCV Elimination in Mongolia, 2021/08/19, 2021/08/19, Advisor, Meeting or assembly, Researchesrs