Organization and Activities of RCTMR

 

　To build up an excellent research center for the utilization of thermotolerant microbes in the fields of fermentation, biomass resourcing, bioremediation, and diagnosis and prevention of infectious diseases, we are trying to establish a novel research and study field with an integrated viewpoint consisting of fermentative, environmental, and pathogenic microbiology, and to undertake pioneering studies and education.

　 In this center, we strengthen connections with foreign researchers and research organizations, as well as with many researchers from industrial research institutes, in order to promote international collaboration and also collaboration between academia and the private sector.  Thus, we are actively undertaking research and education with the following staff members and research themes in order to reach our goals.

 

Director: Hiroyuli Azakami (Professor, Research Center fot Thermotolerant Microbial Resources)

Vice-director: Hisashi Hoshida (Professor, Graduate School of Science & Technology for Innovation)

 

[Division of Fermentation Microorganisms]

Members: Toshiharu Yakushi  (Chair), Tomoyuki Kosaka (Vice-Chair),  Rinji Akada, Naoya Kataoka, Hisashi Hoshida, Kazunobu Matsushita,  Mamoru Yamada.

 

1) Research and Development of Thermotolerant Fermentative Microbes, and Creation of New Microbial Industries fitted to Southeast Asian and also to Domestic Companies under Global Warming

  (Members: M. Yamada, T. Yakushi, N. Kataoka)

 

　• Establishment of high-temperature oxidative fermentation system with thermotolerant acetic acid bacteria

　• Analysis of molecular mechanism of thermotolerance of thermotolerant, fermentative microbes and comparative genomic analysis of mesophilic and thermotolerant microbes

　• Capacity building of fermentative microbes by energetic, metabolic engineering and its application

　• Establishment of fermentation systems applicable for Southeast Asia by using thermotolerant, fermentative microbes

 

2) Research and Development on Bioethanol Production System using Thermotolerant or Semi-thermophilic Fermentative Microbes

   (Members: M. Yamada, R. Akada, H. Hoshida, T. Kosaka)

 

　• Establishment of high-temperature ethanol fermentation systems using thermotolerant yeasts or bacteria

　• Exploration of cellulose biomass-degrading microbes and their application for bioethanol production

　• Establishment of bioethanol production systems with Kluyveromyces marxianus capable of growing at high temperature      

　• Development of experimental procedures of model yeast or expression system of useful materials and proteins

 

[Division of Environmental Microorganisms]

Members: Tsuyoshi Imai (Chair), Osami Misumi (Vice-Chair),  Yuki Kobayashi, Yu Sato, Masahiro Fujishima, Ikuko Yuyama, Kazuhira Yokoyama.

 

3) Research and Development on Bioremediation and Potential Biomass Utilization by Thermotolerant or Semi-thermophilic Microbes

 (Members: T. Imai, O. Misumi, Y. Yanagi)            

　•  Micro-algal production of valuable bioactive compounds

　•  Recovery of energy and useful materials from unutilizable biomass by semi-thermophilic microbes

　•  Bioremediation including soil and water purification by thermotolerant or semi-thermophilic microbes.

4) Preservation of Natural Ecosystem by utilizing Intracellular and Intercellular Symbiotic Microorganisms

              (Members: K. Yokoyama, O. Misumi, Y. Kobayashi, M. Watarai)

 

　• Elucidation of mechanisms needed for establishment of intracellular and plant-microbe symbioses

　• Development of plant production system by utilization of plant-microbe interaction

　• Preservation of aquatic ecosystem by using special microbes having intracellular symbionts

　• Environmental strategy of pathogens on their transmission mechanism

 

[Division of Pathogenic Microorganisms]

Member: Daisuke Hayasaka(Chair),  Tetsuya Yanagida(Vice-Chair), Hiroyuki Azakami, Shin-ichi  Ito,  Kazunori Sasaki, Hiroshi Sato, Takashi Shimizu, Hiroshi Shimoda, Hiroshi Sunahara, Ai Takano, Tsuyoshi Tanabe, Kazuo Nishigaki, Masahisa Watarai. 

 

5) Early Stage Diagnosis and Prevention of Infectious Diseases Caused by Intracellular Parasitic Microorganisms (Member: S. Ito, M. Watarai, H. Azakami, T. Shimizu, K. Sasaki, Y. Kobayashi)

 

　•  Identification of causal pathogens of vegetable diseases occurring in the moderate- and high-temperature areas and development of genetic diagnosis methods to identify the pathogens

　• Molecular mechanisms of adhesion and colonization (biofilm formation) of pathogenic bacteria to the hosts and development of control technologies of the biofilm formation

　• Elucidation of infection mechanisms of intracellular parasitic bacteria and establishment of preventive measures against their infection

　• Mechanism for immune response towards bacterial infection

　• Immune-related diseases caused by destruction of infection protective system

 

6) Analysis of Transmission Routes of Zoonotic Diseases and Prevention of the Diseases

  (Member: H. Sato, M. Watarai, K. Nishigaki, D. Fayasaka, A. Takano, H. Shimoda, T. Yanagida)

 

　• Elucidation of transmission routes and infection mechanisms of trans -border emerging zoonotic diseases

　• Investigation of distribution of fruit bats as natural hosts of many pathogenic viruses to human in Southeast Asia

　• Elucidation of infection mechanisms of zoonotic bacteria, Brucella, Listeria, and Salmonella

　• Epidemiological and pathological studies on arthropod-borne infectious diseases and development of methods for the control

 

[Division of Common base research and development]

Masato,Yachibana, Daniel Ruzel

 

May 10th. November