Faculty of Agriculture | Okayama University / 2024-02-08 /user/agr/eng/research_highlights/index_id29.html Scientific Reports of the Faculty of Agriculture Vol.113 was published. For details, please see the following URL: http://ousar.lib.okayama-u.ac.jp/ja/journal/srfa Okayama University Repository for Academic Resources 2024-02-01 /user/agr/eng/research_highlights/index_id28.html Release Subtitle: Three decades after its discovery, a snail species is officially named Xenassiminea nana following detailed morphological examinations Release Summary Text: In the 1990s, a novel snail population was discovered in the estuaries of mainland Japan by Dr. Hiroshi Fukuda from Okayama University. Eventually, he classified and formally named the new species, Xenassiminea nana, which belongs to the family Assimineidae and the subfamily Assimineinae. Its classification in this family is noteworthy, due to its dissimilarities to other species of the same family. It has a translucent, cochlear-shaped external appearance and is on the verge of extinction owing to rapid evolutionary changes in the marine ecosystem. Full text of release: In Japan, a peculiar gastropod species was discovered over three decades ago, gaining attention upon being labeled as "vulnerable" or "near threatened" in several government and local red lists. This species, referred to as Ka-wa-tare-kawa-zanshō in Japanese, remained undescribed until recent efforts sought to rectify this omission. Dr. Hiroshi Fukuda, an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Japan, who first discovered this species, meticulously classified it through a comprehensive exploration of its anatomical characters. His research and findings were published online on November 23, 2023 in the Molluscan Research. “I found the new species 31 years ago when I was a fourth year University student. I began the taxonomic revision of the Assimineidae on becoming aware that the species is a member of the family despite the morphological dissimilarity,” Dr. Fukuda recounted, shedding light on the motivation behind this study. For the classification, Dr. Fukuda examined, cataloged, and deposited snail specimens across multiple collections and museums. They were categorized based on their collection sites and preservation methods, ranging from dry specimens to those preserved in solutions such as neutral seawater formalin or ethanol. Taxonomic analysis defined the newly discovered species as Xenassiminea nana, within the family Assimineidae. The species name ""nana"", derived from the Latin term ""nanus"" meaning dwarf, directly reflects the exceptionally small size of this species, which is the smallest among known assimineids. The species displays unique characters such as distinct omniphoric grooves, specific radular teeth, reproductive system, and a nervous system organization, placing it within the family Assimineidae despite superficial similarities to other gastropod families due to convergence. It shares certain traits with other assimineine members but distinguishes itself through a depressed shell shape and less pronounced cephalic tentacles. Its tentacular nerve"s unique behavior of running parallel to the optic nerve and reaching a triangular bulge around each eye is distinct and unseen in other taxa within the family. These specific anatomical traits and unique shell features prompted the creation of a new genus Xenassiminea, segregating it as a distinct entity within Assimineidae. Furthermore, the study presents a comprehensive anatomical examination of Xenassiminea nana. It explores the shell characters, noting its small helicoid shape that turns from transparent in youth to opaque in maturity. The creature has translucent skin, prominent tentacles, noticeable black eyes, and is capable of crawling rapidly. The study also meticulously describes the digestive system, reproductive organs in both male and female specimens, and provides insights into the central nervous system, highlighting ganglia, nerves, and connectives throughout. Xenassiminea nana is native to the temperate zones of mainland Japan and inhabits narrow spaces under rocks or buried in gravel. Records of this species are documented from various prefectures along the Pacific coast, Japan Sea, and East China Sea coastlines of Japan. Landfilling and reclamation activities have depleted the habitat of these snails. “Actions undertaken for biodiversity conservation are not yet enough, partly because many people do not know that there are many little-known endangered species, especially minute invertebrates. This newly discovered species is a prime example of such overlooked biodiversity, offering valuable insights into the critical conditions necessary for biodiversity preservation,” notes Dr. Fukuda, emphasizing the urgent need for its conservation. Young researchers must actively immerse themselves in morphological studies to understand the role of smaller invertebrates in marine ecosystems. Without prompt conservation efforts, smaller invertebrates may transition from being endangered to extinct, sooner than anticipated. Release URL: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1029936 Reference: A new genus and species of the Assimineidae (Caenogastropoda: Truncatelloidea) from temperate mainland Japan Journal: Molluscan Research DOI:10.1080/13235818.2023.2278070 Contact Person:Hiroshi Fukuda Associate Professor Dr. Fukuda is affiliated with the Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science, and Technology at Okayama University. He has authored over 200 research articles on marine biodiversity and conservation. He has given the scientific names of molluscan species such as Turbo sazae, Satsuma akiratadai, and Xenassiminea nana native to Japan. Through his research, he advocates the “niku-nuki method,” a traditional Japanese technique applied while working with rare and minute mollusks. His work reflects the need to recognize and protect endangered marine species. Dr. Fukuda’s contributions to conservation through public awareness have earned him the Education Award from the Zoological Society of Japan. 2024-01-04 /user/agr/eng/research_highlights/index_id27.html Release Subtitle: Japanese researchers examine the effect of the aggregation pheromone 4,8-dimethyldecanal on the death-feigning behavior of red flour beetles Release Summary Text: In the natural world, predators play a significant role in shaping how animals defend themselves. A previously documented tactic called ""death feigning” involves prey insects faking death when targeted by predators. However, the impact of chemical substances called pheromones on death-feigning remains largely unexplored. A team of researchers recently found out how the aggregation pheromone 4,8-dimethyldecanal affects the death-feigning behavior of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Full text of release: Predation is a driving force in the evolution of anti-predator strategies, and death feigning, characterized by immobility in response to threats, is a common defensive mechanism across various animal species. While this behavior can enhance an individual"s survival prospects by reducing a predator"s interest, it also carries costs, such as limited opportunities for feeding and reproduction. Recently, researchers from Okayama University, Japan, investigated how pheromones, important chemical signals that affect foraging and reproduction, might influence death-feigning behavior in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. “Male beetles release an aggregation pheromone called 4,8-dimethyldecanal (DMD), which attracts both males and females, aiding in successful foraging and mating. However, it remained unclear whether this pheromone could affect the duration of death feigning in these beetles,” says Professor Takahisa Miyatake from the Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Japan, who led the study. Prof. Miyatake collaborated with colleagues Motoya Ishikawa and Kentarou Matsumura from the same department on this study. Their findings were published on 13 September 2023 in the Journal of Ethnology. The team used a population of T. castaneum that had undergone artificial selection for death-feigning duration for more than 40 generations. The study encompassed two distinct experimental schedules. In the first, beetles were initially exposed to the pheromone, following which their death-feigning duration was measured. In the second schedule, beetles were first evaluated for their death-feigning duration without the presence of the pheromone, and subsequently, the duration was measured with the pheromone introduced. In both scenarios, the researchers meticulously compared the death-feigning durations between the treatments. The team found that T. castaneum beetles exposed to the DMD pheromone exhibited significantly shorter durations of death feigning compared to their counterparts that were not exposed to the pheromone. This discovery suggests that the mere presence of the aggregation pheromone played a pivotal role in shaping the behavior of these beetles, causing them to curtail their protracted death feigning. Interestingly, while previous research has primarily focused on the triggers for initiating death feigning, little has been known so far about what cues awaken individuals from this state. The study suggests that aggregation pheromones, like DMD, may serve as one of these awakening factors. This adaptive response allows individuals to save precious time and increase their chances of survival when predators lose interest. Furthermore, the study brough to light the potential sex-related differences in death-feigning behavior. Previous studies had already indicated that both male and female adult red flour beetles exhibit a strong attraction to DMD, with males even intensifying DMD release upon sensing it. Remarkably, during this investigation, researchers noted that males tended to have a longer duration of death feigning when compared to females. This observation raises intriguing questions about how the sexes allocate their time and energy, particularly in the context of dispersal and reproductive activities. ""Our study suggests that T. castaneum possesses the capacity to adapt its death-feigning duration when it detects the presence of an aggregation pheromone. This represents a remarkable example of behavioral plasticity in response to external chemical cues, as shown by previous studies. This may offer valuable insights into the intricate world of animal instincts, potentially paving the way for further exploration in the future,"" concludes Prof. Miyatake. Red flour beetles are known pests. They commonly forage on food products such as flour, grains, cereal, and stored goods. Therefore, studying how they respond to pheromones such as DMD could have enormous agricultural significance. A big thanks to the researchers for accurately documenting insect behavior and for conducting research with future environmental implications. Release URL: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1003345 Reference: Aggregation pheromone interrupts death feigning in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum Journal: Journal of Ethology DOI:10.1007/s10164-023-00793-2 Contact Person:Takahisa Miyatake Dr. Takahisa Miyatake is a Professor at Okayama University’s Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology. He obtained his Ph.D. from Kyushu University, Japan. Prof. Miyatake has over 170 publications to his credit, including those that appeared in Nature Communications and Scientific Reports. His research group primarily focuses on decoding insect behavior, ecology, and evolution. Prof. Miyatake has received multiple research awards for his exemplary work. 2023-10-03 /user/agr/eng/research_highlights/index_id26.html Release Subtitle: Researchers train neural network models that can estimate rice yield from analyzing pre-harvest photographs Release Summary Text: The global demand for rice is projected to rise significantly by 2050, necessitating sustainable intensification of existing croplands. Now, Japanese researchers have made significant progress by developing deep-learning algorithms that can rapidly estimate rice yield through the analysis of thousands of photographs. The model exhibited high precision across diverse conditions and cultivars, surpassing previous methods, while effectively detecting yield differences between cultivars and also with different water management practices. Full text of release: With the rise in global demand for staple crop products projected to substantially increase by 2050 due to population growth, rising per capita income, and the growing use of biofuels, it is necessary to adopt sustainable agricultural intensification practices in existing croplands to meet this demand. However, estimation processes currently employed in the global South remain inadequate. Traditional methods like self-reporting and crop cutting have their limitations, and remote sensing technologies are not fully utilized in this context. However, recent advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, particularly deep learning with convolutional neural networks (CNNs), offer promising solutions here. To explore the scope of this new technology, researchers from Japan conducted a study focusing on rice. They used ground-based digital images taken at harvesting stage of the crop, combined with CNNs, to estimate rice yield. Their study appeared online on 29 June 2023 and was published on 28 July 2023 in Volume 5 of Plant Phenomics. “We started by conducting an extensive field campaign. We gathered rice canopy images and rough grain yield data from 20 locations in seven countries in order to create a comprehensive multinational database,” says Dr. Yu Tanaka, Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, who led the study. The images were captured using digital cameras which could gather the required data from a distance of 0.8–0.9 meters, vertically downwards from the rice canopy. With Dr. Kazuki Saito of the International Rice Research Institute (formerly Africa Rice Center) and other collaborators, the team successfully created a database of 4,820 yield data of harvesting plots and 22,067 images, encompassing various rice cultivars, production systems, and crop management practices. Next, a CNN model was developed to estimate the grain yield for each of the collected images. The team used a visual-occlusion method to visualize the additive effect of different regions in the rice canopy images. It involved masking specific parts of the images and observing how the model"s yield estimation changed in response to the masked regions. The insights gained from this method allowed the researchers to understand how the CNN model interpreted various features in the rice canopy images, influencing its accuracy and its ability to distinguish between yield-contributing components and non-contributing elements in the canopy. The model performed well, explaining around 68%–69% of yield variation in the validation and test datasets. Study results highlighted the importance of panicles—loose-branching clusters of flowers—in yield estimation through occlusion-based visualization. The model could predict yield accurately during the ripening stage, recognizing mature panicles, and also detect cultivar and water management differences in yield in the prediction dataset. Its accuracy, however, decreased as image resolution decreased. Nevertheless, the model proved robust, showing good accuracy at different shooting angles and times of day. “Overall, the developed CNN model demonstrated promising capabilities in estimating rough grain yield from rice canopy images across diverse environments and cultivars. Another appealing aspect is that it is highly cost effective and does not require labor-intensive crop cuts or complex remote-sensing technologies,” says Dr. Tanaka enthusiastically. The study emphasizes the potential of CNN-based models for monitoring rice productivity at regional scales. However, the model"s accuracy may vary under different conditions, and further research should focus on adapting the model to low-yielding and rainy environments. The AI-based method has also been made available to farmers and researchers through a simple smartphone application, thus greatly improving accessibility of the technology and its real-life applications. The name of this application is ‘HOJO’, and it is already available on iOS and Android. The researchers hope that their work will lead to better management of rice fields and assist accelerated breeding programs, contributing positively to global food production and sustainability initiatives. Release URL: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/999317 Reference: Deep Learning Enables Instant and Versatile Estimation of Rice Yield Using Ground-Based RGB Images Journal: Plant Phenomics DOI:10.34133/plantphenomics.0073 Contact Person:Yu Tanaka Dr. Yu Tanaka is an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology at Okayama University. His research interests are environmental, agricultural, crop production science, and the use of artificial intelligence- based research methods in these disciplines. He has extensively worked on production, yield estimation, genetic variation studies involving the rice crop. Estimating rice yield with a convolutional neural network (CNN) model, using ground-based digital image 2023-08-24 /user/agr/eng/research_highlights/index_id25.html Release Abstract: Researchers have developed a rapid DNA diagnostic method to combat unauthorized international trade of citrus cultivars developed within Japan Full text of release: Citrus cultivation holds significant importance in Japan and has recently attracted both domestic and global attention. With an agricultural production value of approximately 201 billion yen, citrus is the third most important agricultural product in Japan. The success of the Japanese citrus industry is attributed to the development of new cultivars that are free of pests and diseases, climate-resilient, and exhibit superior fruit quality. Notable examples include "Asumi", "Asuki", "Ehimekashidai28go", "Ehimekashidai48go", "Himekoharu", "Kanpei", "Rinoka", and "Mihaya", all of which display improved agricultural traits such as higher sugar content, resistance to diseases like citrus canker, and a reduced tendency to drip when cut. There has, however, been a growing concern over the infringement and violation of breeding rights of citrus cultivars developed in Japan. This issue stems from their unauthorized export and cultivation overseas, followed by the importation of infringing fruit back into the country. This practice results in a loss of business in overseas markets, infringing the rights and severely jeopardizing the livelihoods of Japanese farmers. So, in 2021, the Japanese government revised the Plant Variety Protection and Seed Act to prevent overseas outflow of registered cultivars, safeguarding the rights of citrus breeders. Moreover, researchers developed cultivar-specific DNA identification systems such as cleaved amplified polymorphic site (CAPS) markers and TaqMan-MGB single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping assays, which could discriminate the target registered cultivar from others. However, these identification methods are time consuming and there is a growing need for faster and more user-friendly systems that can effectively identify Japanese cultivars, particularly at on-field inspection sites, so that the import of counterfeit fruit is curbed. To this end, a group of Japanese researchers led by Associate Professor Yuki Monden from Okayama University and Mitsutoshi Okamoto of Ehime Research Institute of Citrus Fruits—and also comprising Takehiko Shimada of the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, and Kazuto Takasaki and Tomoyuki Takeuchi of FASMAC Co. Ltd.—developed a new DNA marker-based cultivar identification system for eight prominent Japanese citrus cultivars. A paper detailing their study was made available online on 27 April 2023, and was published in Volume 73, Issue 2 of Breeding Science on 6 June 2023. Speaking on their novel breakthrough, Prof. Monden says, “This system accurately identifies citrus cultivars by detecting DNA polymorphisms—fragments of DNA that are unique to each of the target cultivars.” The study employed genetic sequencing techniques to identify three retrotransposon families (CIRE1, Tcs1, and Tcs2) that are transcriptionally active in citrus plants. Retrotransposons are genetic elements that exhibit high copy numbers which can be used to detect cultivar-specific DNA polymorphisms. By analyzing their insertion sites through sequencing, unique DNA markers for specific cultivars were identified. These cultivar-identifying DNA markers comprising of polymorphic InDel (insertion-deletion) fragments in combination with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive marker for the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rbcL) gene were successfully detected within 15 minutes using a small membrane stick, the chromatographic printed array strip (C-Pas). This straightforward process can be accomplished within one hour of DNA extraction and can clearly determine whether the tested fruit sample belongs to a registered cultivar. The developed system thus offers significant advantages as a convenient, rapid, and cost-effective DNA diagnostic method to inspect fruit imports. The proposed target cultivar-specific identification system is anticipated to function as an efficient tool for promptly identifying and acting against suspicious, unlicensed cultivars. With time, Professor Monden hopes that this identification method can help strengthen the expansion of Japanese exports. “At present, the Japanese government is actively promoting the expansion of exports in the agricultural, forestry, fishery, and food sectors, with targets of achieving a 2-trillion-yen export value by 2025, which would expand to 5 trillion yen by 2030. While these efforts to boost exports are being strengthened, there is a growing concern regarding the piracy of excellent cultivars bred in Japan,” she says. She hopes their revolutionary work can enhance the competitiveness of Japanese cultivars by protecting the rights of breeders who breed them, eventually. Release URL: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/993187 Reference: A target cultivar-specific identification system based on the chromatographic printed array strip method for eight prominent Japanese citrus cultivars Journal: Breeding Science DOI:10.1270/jsbbs.22065 Contact Person:Yuki Monden Yuki Monden is an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science at Okayama University. She obtained her PhD in Agriculture from Kyoto University. Dr. Monden has around 40 publications to her credit, encompassing the fields of environmental science, agricultural science, and plant genetics. Her research focus includes plant breeding and the use of retrotransposons for plant breed identification. She also serves as a Committee Member on the Editorial Board of Breeding Science. Recognized for her exceptional research endeavors, Dr. Monden has received around 12 awards acknowledging her significant contributions to the scientific community. 2023-06-26 /user/agr/eng/research_highlights/index_id24.html Scientific Reports of the Faculty of Agriculture Vol.112 was published. For details, please see the following URL: http://ousar.lib.okayama-u.ac.jp/ja/journal/srfa Okayama University Repository for Academic Resources 2023-02-01 /user/agr/eng/research_highlights/index_id23.html Release Subtitle: Researchers have found that the ester compound cycloartenyl ferulate is chiefly responsible for the health-promoting effects of brown rice Release Summary Text: The health-benefits of brown rice are well-known and widely advertised. But what exactly confers these excellent properties has been subject to speculation until now. Researchers from Okayama University have recently identified cycloartenyl ferulate (CAF) as the main antioxidant and cytoprotective constituent of brown rice. CAF can protect cells from stress directly through antioxidant effects and indirectly by boosting the production of antioxidants within cells. Full text of release: Asian diets feature rice as a staple grain, contributing towards nearly 90% of the world’s rice consumption. Brown rice, in particular, is known to have several health benefits. As a regular addition to the diet, it can help reduce body weight, lower cholesterol, and suppress inflammation. The ability of brown rice to neutralize reactive oxygen species and prevent cellular damage is vital to many of its health-promoting effects. Although previous studies have shown that the antioxidant compounds in brown rice can protect cells against oxidative stress, knowledge regarding which major compound contributes towards these beneficial properties has long remained a mystery. In a recent study led by Professor Yoshimasa Nakamura from the Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, researchers from Japan have identified cycloartenyl ferulate (CAF) as the main “cytoprotective” or cell-protecting compound in brown rice. CAF is a unique compound owing to its hybrid structure. As Professor Nakamura explains, “CAF is a hybrid compound of polyphenol and phytosterol and is expected to be a potent bioactive substance with various pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant effect and blood fat-lowering effect.” The study published on January 3, 2023 in volume 24 issue 1 of International Journal of Molecular Science , was co-authored by Hongyan Wu, from Dalian Polytechnic University, and Toshiyuki Nakamura, from the Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science at Okayama University. In it, the researchers provide evidence of CAF’s antioxidant properties by demonstrating that it can protect cells from stress caused by hydrogen peroxide. Although hydrogen peroxide is a by-product of a cell’s metabolic processes, abnormal amounts of the compound can be toxic to cells and cause irreversible damage. Treatment of cells with CAF increased their resistance to toxic stress induced by hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, CAF provided greater protection from hydrogen peroxide-induced stress compared to alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol, two other prominent antioxidant compounds that were earlier speculated to be major contributors to the antioxidant capacity of brown rice. According to the study’s estimates, the amount of CAF in the whole grain of brown rice is five-fold higher than that of other antioxidant compounds found in brown rice. Further, CAF increases the concentration of heme oxygenase-1 or HO-1, an enzyme that facilitates the production of antioxidants. “We demonstrated here that CAF significantly increased the mRNA level of HO-1, the small molecular weight antioxidant-producing enzyme, at concentrations similar to that required for cytoprotective effects in resistance to oxidative damage,” Professor Nakamura explains. The researchers further explored this mechanism of action through experiments where blocking HO-1 activity using inhibitors reduced the antioxidant effect of CAF considerably. The high abundance and unique mechanism of action are evidence that CAF is the major contributing antioxidant in brown rice. Through this study, the researchers have not only uncovered the secret to the health benefits of brown rice, but also locked down on the component that is majorly responsible for these benefits. This will allow the use of CAF in the development of better novel supplements and food products focused on consumer health. As an optimistic Professor Nakamura observes, “Our study can help in the development of new functional foods and supplements based on the functionality of CAFs, like CAF-based nutraceuticals.” Although, with such naturally occurring health benefits, brown rice still very much looks to be on the menu! Release URL: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/977079 Reference: Cycloartenyl Ferulate Is the Predominant Compound in Brown Rice Conferring Cytoprotective Potential against Oxidative Stress-Induced Cytotoxicity Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences DOI:10.3390/ijms24010822 Contact Person:Yoshimasa Nakamura Dr Yoshimasa Nakamura is a professor at the Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science at Okayama University. He has nearly 30 years of research experience and has published over 317 scientific articles. His fields of academic interest include Phytochemicals, Reactive Oxygen Species and Antioxidants, Lipid Peroxidation, Apoptosis, Cell Apoptosis and GSH. Professor Nakamura has previously worked at Kyoto University, Nagoya University, and University of Illinois at Chicago. 2023-01-20 /user/agr/eng/research_highlights/index_id22.html Release Subtitle: Researchers find that scorpionflies from different locations use varying mating and courtship tactics Release Summary Text: Alternative mating strategies of the Japanese scorpionfly have been studied sparingly over the years, primarily focusing on individual populations. Now, two scientists from Okayama University compare the mating habits of male Japanese scorpionflies from two locations—Aichi and Okayama—and reveal that the weaker males of these regional populations adopt distinctly different mating tactics to attract female scorpionflies after losing to the stronger males, possibly indicating a genetic influence in their mating behavior. Full text of release: http://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/eng/research_highlights/index_id163.html Release URL: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/957073 Reference: Differences in mating tactics performed by males of two local populations of the Japanese scorpionfly Panorpa japonica Journal: Journal of Ethology DOI:10.1007/s10164-022-00753-2 Contact Person:Ryo Ishihara Dr. Ryo Ishihara is a Fellow of the Special Educational and Research Fellowship and is affiliated to the School of Agriculture at the Okayama University in Japan. He has a total of eight publications to his name with his primary focus being ethology and animal behavior. His most recent works include mating tactics of scorpionfly, death feigning in beetles, and swarming behavior of mayfly. 2022-06-29 /user/agr/eng/research_highlights/index_id21.html Scientific Reports of the Faculty of Agriculture Vol.111 was published. For details, please see the following URL: http://ousar.lib.okayama-u.ac.jp/ja/journal/srfa Okayama University Repository for Academic Resources 2022-02-01 /user/agr/eng/research_highlights/index_id20.html Source: Okayama University (JAPAN), Public Relations Division For immediate release: 23 June 2021 Okayama University research: Meeting high demand: Increasing the efficiency of antiviral drug production in bacteria. (Okayama, 23 June) In a study published in the journal Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, researchers from Okayama University induce mutations in a bacterial strain to increase the production of an antiviral chemical it secretes. The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the need for antiviral drugs which are effective in suppressing viruses. Sinefungin is one such antibiotic produced by the bacteria Streptomyces incarnatus NRRL8089 (S. incarnatus) and has shown efficacy against multiple viruses including the SARS coronavirus. However, to understand its full potential in clinical studies large quantities of the compound are required. Now, Professor TAMURA Takashi and his Okayama University research team have found a way to increase to triple the production efficiency of sinefungin by inducing multiple mutations in S. incarnatus. For more information, please refer to the following URL. http://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/eng/research_highlights/index_id137.html 2021-06-23