Marine biotechnology targeting marine environmental bacteria
Research on the function of coral symbiotic bacteria for coral health using genomic analysis
Organizations: Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University; Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus; Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus; Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
Coral holobionts are ecological units consisting of coral, obligate dinoflagellate endosymbionts, and symbiotic bacteria. There has been a great deal of research focusing on dinoflagellate endosymbionts in the context of coral bleaching, but the function of symbiotic bacteria is unknown. We focus on symbiotic bacteria in corals in Okinawa Prefecture and study the impact of bacteria on coral health using single-cell genomic analysis.
Single-cell genome sequencing of marine microbes in the Red Sea
Organizations: Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), AIST-Waseda University Computational Bio Big-Data Open Innovation Laboratory
We have developed a single-cell genome sequencing technology for environmental microbes with droplet microfluidics. As an example of the application of this technology, we have conducted extensive single-cell genomics of marine microbes in the Red Sea collected in 2017. We have demonstrated that comparative genomics at strain-level resolutions could be performed, and it could be applied to detect viral signals and biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) at the single-cell level.
Study Group on the UN Decade of Ocean Science
(https://oceanpolicy.jp/decade/ (renewed as this site https://oceandecade.jp)
Rather than an initiative meant to be carried out by ocean researchers alone, the UN Decade of Ocean Science is to be co-designed, co-produced, and co-delivered on a collaborative basis with a range of different concerned parties. In this connection, the Japan Society of Ocean Policy and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation’s Ocean Policy Research Institute established the Study Group on the UN Decade of Ocean Science in August 2020 as a foundation for collaborations and partnerships.
In the wake of discussions by the Study Group, a Japanese National Committee on the UN Decade of Ocean Science for sustainable development was set up and a public symposium to kick off its activities was held in February 2021. As a maritime nation and a nation of science and technology, Japan will seek to demonstrate leadership in promoting the UN Decade of Ocean Science.