Microbial Genomics; Environmental Bioinformatics
“Advanced Biosciences” seminars (Arakawa, Kanai, Kuroda, Kono, Sugimoto, Suzuki, Soga, Tsujimoto, Naito and Hirayama) are operated along with Academic Project “Advanced Biosciences” for graduate students.
All members, including faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduate students are involved to research projects.
The seminar(s) to be taken will be announced when students are notified of their permission to enroll."
Please check our website for more details. https://www.iab.keio.ac.jp/en/index.html
Microorganisms play important roles in various environments, including the human body, buildings, sewage, air, soil, and plants. However, they also pose a threat to human health as they can cause various infectious diseases. In this study, our aim is to understand the evolution and diversity of microorganisms using bioinformatics and genome sequence analysis techniques. We seek to effectively apply this knowledge in the fields of medicine, agriculture, engineering, and other disciplines.
The increase in microbial infections can be attributed to factors such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in pathogens, as well as social factors like urbanization and human mobility.
If no measures are taken, it is predicted that by 2050, infections caused by AMR pathogens could result in 10 million deaths worldwide annually. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as plasmids and viruses, contribute to the spread of AMR and virulence through horizontal gene transfer among organisms. Our research focuses on the evolution and diversity of MGEs in various environments.
To design cities and built environments in a way that considers human health, it is necessary to collect and share data on environmental microbiomes. We have been collecting microbiome data in public spaces such as mass-transit systems and schools. Additionally, we gather data on urban microbiomes during the COVID-19 pandemic and around mass gathering events such as the World Cup, Olympics, and Paralympics. We submit this data into public databases that can be accessed by anyone without restrictions. These datasets are expected to be effectively utilized in understanding the diversity and dynamics of microorganisms.
The findings of this research are expected to contribute to various fields, including biodiversity, public health, forensic science, architecture, and urban planning.