研究室紹介

Microbial Bioresources

Functional Analysis of genomes and proteins from extremophiles and their applications. Genetic resource exploration of viruses and plasmids.Identification and characterization of microbial resources.

Research Interests

1. Search and characterization of extreme environment viruses as genetic resources
2. Phagytherapy using bacteriolysis enzymes derived from extreme environment viruses
3. Induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by phage lytic enzyme holing
4. Development of biological control methods using phage for phytopathogenic fungi
5. Elucidation of bio-mineralization of thermophilic bacteria in geothermal environment
6. Development of an expression system using environmental response of Thermus sp.
7. Development of genetic resources of lactic acid bacteria and actinomycetes useful for industrial applications
8. Elucidation of the mechanism of D-amino acid production by lactic acid bacteria and the physiological roles of D-amino acids

In general, microorganisms, which are unicellular, have µm-sized cells and nm-sized organs, which are invisible to our eyes, but their variety and number are considered to be nearly infinite. Since time immemorial, humankind has utilized the power of microorganisms in all aspects of life, including various foods such as sake, miso and soy sauce, cheese and yogurt. Today, with the development of biotechnology, we can not only use whole microbial cells as factories, but also modify cell parts and metabolites, such as enzymes, and mass-produce and use them. The scope of its use has expanded to include not only food, but also medicine, pharmaceuticals, commodity products such as detergents and plastics, environmental purification such as bioremediation, energy production such as biofuels and microbial batteries, resource recovery such as rare metals, and all other areas of our daily lives.　In recent years, a wide variety of microorganisms have been isolated as genetic resources from various environments, and their genome analysis is progressing rapidly. The development of research and development in the function and structure analysis of genes and gene products (proteins and enzymes) and industrial applications utilizing the vast amount of genome information has been remarkable, and new research fields such as comparative genomics, proteome analysis, systems biology, and minimal genome factory are rapidly expanding as post-genome research. The research field of post-genome research is rapidly expanding as a new field of study.　We, in the Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Resources, conduct integrated analysis of characteristic biological phenomena of microorganisms from the atomic and molecular to the cellular level, and conduct consistent education and research with the aim of dramatically improving biological production through the development and advanced utilization of microbial genetic functions that hold unlimited possibilities. In particular, we search for and cultivate microorganisms such as bacteria, archaea, and phage viruses from all kinds of environments, including hot springs and pastures in the Kyushu region, analyze their characteristics and genome and protein structures, and conduct research aimed at creating microbial functions and products that will enrich our lives as useful genetic resources. We are conducting research with the aim of creating microbial functions and products that enrich our lives as useful genetic resources.

Keyword of Research Area