Chemistry, Materials and Bioengineering Major
Life Science and Biotechnology
iwaki
【Research Topics】 1. Genetic analysis of xenobiotics-degrading bacteria 2. Exploration of untapped microbial resources 3. Development of functional analysis tools for environmental microorganisms4. Precise microbiome engineering
Key Words: Applied and environmental microbiology, biodegradation, bioconversion, bioproduction, genome editing, metabolic engineering
Applications: Bioremediation of xenobiotics, bioproduction of useful chemicals, wastewater treatment
oikawa
【Research Topics】 1. Isolation and characterization of novel enzymes from microorganisms 2. Enzymological and microbial production of industrially useful compounds and d-amino acids 3. Analysis and function of d-amino acids in foods
Key Words: D-amino acid, novel enzyme, stereospecific synthesis, biocatalyst, screening of novel microorganisms, fermentative food, thermostable enzyme
Applications: Production of food additives, functional food, medicine, agricultural chemicals, and biopolymer; food process; biomass; biosensor
katakura
【Research Topics】 1. Production of immunostimulating polysaccharides by lactic acid bacteria. 2. Cultivation of lactic acid bacteria to a concentration one order of magnitude higher than before. 3. Improving the efficiency of enzymatic saccharification of cellulose.
Key Words: Lactic acid bacteria, fed-batch culture, immunostimulating polysaccharide, enzymatic saccharification of cellulose
Applications: Efficient production of lactic acid bacteria and their product such as immunostimulating polysaccharides.
ymatsu
【Research Topics】 1. Disinfection of microorganisms 2. Investigation of biofilm formation and development of biofilm removal system 3. Bioremediation of chemical pollutants by environmental bacteria and their activities 4. Outbreak mechanism of stress-resistant bacterial 5. Bioenergy production and biomass utilization
Key Words: Disinfectant, sterilization system, biofilm, surfactant, reactive oxygen species, stress response, molecular chaperone, protein stability, bioremediation, bioenergy
Applications: Sewage disposal system, improvement of polluted soil, development of disinfectant, food processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical equipment
shino.ya
【Research Topics】 1. Functional analysis of membrane vesicles produced by intestinal bacteria 2. Analysis of biological regulatory mechanisms of intestinal bacteria 3. Development of membrane vesicles-based drug delivery technologies
Key Words: Intestinal bacteria, probiotics, membrane vesicles, gut immunity
Applications: Functional foods, vaccine, cosmetics
kazuyay
【Research Topics】 1. Genomics-guided discovery of biosynthetic genes for novel bioactive molecules 2. Biosynthetic studies for structurally unique microbial bioactive molecules 3. Development of a genetic platform for efficient production of bioactive molecules
Key Words: Genome mining, natural product, biosynthesis, microbial genetics, actinobacteria, microbial production, fermentation
Applications: Pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals, food preservatives, cosmetics, biopolymers, chemicals
okano.k
【Research Topics】 1. Construction of artificial microbiota 2. Metabolic engineering of microorganisms 3. Genome editing of microorganisms
Key Words: Artificial microbiota, metabolic engineering, genome editing, cell penetrating peptide, peptide nucleic acid, bacteriophage
Applications: Bio-refinery, production of useful compounds, modification of microbial functions, analysis of microbial interactions
sasaki_m
【Research Topics】 1. Development of novel antimicrobial technology 2. Production of useful compounds by microorganisms 3. Environmental impact assessment and bioremediation
Key Words: Antimicrobial compound, antimicrobial action, antimicrobial resistance, biofilm, biorefinery, environmental impact assessment, bioremediation
Applications: Microbial control, antimicrobial technology
shimoke
【Research Topics】1. Basic therapeutic research based on molecular and cellular biology about neurodegenerative disorders2. Epigenetic regulation during neuronal differentiation3. Molecular mechanism on building neuronal networks4. Analysis of the effect of bisphend a on the brain function
Key Words: Neural differeutiation, bisphenol A, apoptosis, ER stress, alzheimer’s disease, parkinson’s disease, PC12 cells, cerebral cortical neuron, neurotrophic factors, signal transduction
Applications: Development of medicine for neurodegenerative diseases, discovery of target molecules for cognitive or personality disorder
t-sumiyo
【Research Topics】 1. Drug discovery of bioactive compounds 2. Discovery of natural products 3. Construction of chemical library 4. Identification of molecular mechanism of bioactive compounds
Key Words: Medicinal chemistry, protein-protein interaction, epigenetics, chemical library, natural products, neurodegenerative disease, anticancer
Applications: Pharmaceuticals, drug discovery
ynagaoka
【Research Topics】 1. Explorative study of bioactive compounds 2. Synthesis of functional molecules 3. Pharmaceutical engineering
Key Words: Drug discovery, natural products, gene delivery, polyphenol, histone deacetylase inhibitor
Applications: Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, dietary supplements
fukunagk
【Research Topics】 1. We study on the absorption, metabolism, nutrigenomics, and chemistry of marine functional compounds such as n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid or marine organic compounds. 2. Our research project also includes attempts to improve protein functionality, food process characteristics and biofunctions, using molecular modification.
Key Words: Fish oil, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, fish protein, fish peptide, marine products, protamine
Applications: Functional foods, utilization of marine bio-resources, materials of pharmaceutical Compounds
hryotan
【Research Topics】 1. Influence of superchilling (hyo-on) treatment on food components 2. Health promoting effect of novel components derived from seafood
Key Words: Superchilling (hyo-on), food preservation, aging, seafood, fish protein, marine phospholipid
Applications: Food preservation technology, novel aging technology, functional food and components
kusakabe
【Research Topics】 1. Genetic engineering of fish
Key Words: Myogenesis, development, medaka, genetic engineering
Applications: Genetic engineering of aquatic animals, congenital disease analyses, drug discovery
yama
【Research Topics】 1. Development of a drug to reduce jet lag 2. Investigation of the regulators underlying the circadian rhythm 3. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of the clock genes
Key Words: Circadian rhythm, suprachiasmatic nucleus, clock gene
Applications: Health science, pharmaceutical intervention, bioreporter, biosensor
yasuhara
【Research Topics】 1. Cell plate formation in higher plant cells 2. The role of microtubule associated proteins in cell division and cell elongation
Key Words: Plant cytokinesis, phragmoplast, cell plate, microtubules, actin filaments, cytoskeleton
Applications: Breeding of plants
