Exploration and Utilization of Untapped, Uncultured, and Difficult-to-Culture Microbial (Community) Resources
A vast and diverse array of microorganisms exists in the Earth’s environment, and it has become evident that the majority of them remain unidentified, uncultured, and difficult to culture. In contrast, considering the fact that humanity has greatly benefited from cultivable microorganisms—estimated to comprise only about 1% of the total microbial population—gaining access to uncultured microbial resources and their genetic potential presents a significant opportunity for expanding the possibilities for developing novel bio-based products and bioprocesses.
Our research team has been extensively developing new technologies to explore, cultivate, and harness the vast and untapped microbial (community) resources that exist widely in nature but remain unidentified, uncultured, and unutilized. In parallel, we are working to uncover the diverse and profound unknown functions of the newly discovered and obtained microbial (communities). Furthermore, we aim to apply these newly identified microbial (community) resources to the following fields:
- Bio-manufacturing: Development of novel bioproduction technologies utilizing biological functions.
- Agri-biotechnology: Development of biostimulants, biopesticides, and other agricultural applications based on plant-microbe interactions.
- Environmental biotechnology: Development of technologies for utilizing untapped resources and environmentally sustainable innovations.
- Healthcare: Development of health and disease control technologies related to gut microbiota and gut phages.
Through these research efforts, we strive to maximize the potential of unidentified, uncultured, and difficult-to-culture microbial resources, contributing to the realization of a sustainable bioeconomy society.