Aiming to elucidate the unique abilities of actinomycetes
Microorganisms are generally defined as living organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye, and they are extremely diverse. The diversity referred to here is not diversity in appearance (form), but genetic diversity, or diversity in cell function. One of the major goals of research on microorganisms is to harness their unique abilities for the benefit of humankind and to elucidate the secrets of those abilities at the molecular level. My laboratory mainly focuses on microorganisms called actinomycetes. One of the unique abilities of actinomycetes is their ability to produce various biologically active substances (compounds that can be used as drugs or toxins), including antibiotics. These compounds possess unique chemical structures not found in other organisms, and we are studying how they are produced. In addition, actinomycetes grow in a filamentous form and develop spores, which is a complex way of life for bacteria. This is also one of their unique abilities. Some actinomycetes show a dynamic life cycle; they form bag-like structures containing numerous spores that remain dormant until they come into contact with water, at which point the bags rupture and release the spores. These spores then swim in the water toward an appropriate environment for germination. We are conducting research to clarify the molecular mechanisms by which spores are formed and how they awaken from dormancy in such an actinomycete. Meanwhile, through joint research with companies, we have also conducted research on microorganisms involved in fermentation and brewing.
Educational approach
Aiming to develop leaders who can make those around them happy
In the undergraduate courses, I teach “Science on Microorganisms: The World of Microorganisms” in the Liberal Arts Program and “Basic Microbiology” in the Faculty of Agriculture. In the former, lectures are designed to provide a broad introduction to the world of microorganisms to first- and second-year students, including those in liberal arts programs. In the latter, lectures are designed to provide students who have entered the Faculty of Agriculture with a basic knowledge of microbiology. Meanwhile, in the laboratory, we place a strong emphasis on originality and aim to conduct research at the highest level, with the motto of “conducting experiments thoroughly to the best of our ability”. We are committed to developing human resources who can put this into practice. One of the important missions of our laboratory is to nurture human resources who will lead the field as academics or corporate researchers in the future. While not everyone may be suited for it, I believe that even for those who go on to pursue fields other than research after graduation, it is important to experience “rigorous research” while in the laboratory. In any case, since many talented young people gather in the laboratory, I strongly hope that they will become leaders who can make not only themselves but also those around them happy. Therefore, we want them to learn various things, including communication and presentation skills. We often receive praise for the hard work of our graduates at their companies, which is very gratifying.
Vision for industry-academia collaboration
All joint research begins with dialogue.
My laboratory has long collaborated with many companies. I believe that all of these collaborations began with a conversation. For companies and organizations that are interested in some collaborations utilizing microorganisms or microbial enzymes, we would be happy to invite you to visit our laboratory for an informal discussion. We are committed to responding sincerely and thoroughly to all inquiries, and we consider this our laboratory's greatest strength. We are relatively strong in areas such as the discovery of new enzymes and the handling of new microorganisms (especially actinomycetes, including genetic recombination), but we are also very interested in elucidating the mechanisms of new biological phenomena discovered by companies, and we look forward to conducting joint research that leverages strengths of both teams. The idea that “basic research and applied research are not to be separated from each other, but rather work together like the two wheels of a car” has been passed down in our laboratory for many years. Meanwhile, we have built a network that includes not only academia but also companies, and we aim to make the most of this network to steadily fulfill our role as a hub for industry-academia collaboration.
