WATANABE Jun Professor

ThemeFunctionalities of probiotic lactic acid bacteria and gut microbiota.

My DreamContribution to local industries from our research on food functionalities

Belongs

Research Department/Department of Life and Food Sciences/Division of Food Science/Section of Biomolecular Structure and Function
Faculty (Unit)Food Science Program
Field Food functionalities, Food science, Applied microbiology
Keyword Probiotic, Prebiotic, Intestinal microbiota, Lactic acid bacteria, Functional food

Introduction

Food functionalities have been forcused, and many kinds of functionaliry labeled food items are available. In addition, it has been well recognized that gut microbes play important roles in our health. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are recognized as beneficail microbes in the gut, and they are also indispensable for production of fermented food. Probiotics are viable bacteria which contribute our healthy state, and prebiotics contribute our health by improving gut atmosphere. We are interested in functionalities of LAB from fermented food, and in the possibilities of enhancemnet of food functionalities by prebiotics via improving gut envilonment.

List of current research topics

Anti-metabolic syndrome effects of probiotic lactic acid bacteria via modulation of circadian rhism.
Bio-conversion of food functional factors by intestinal microbiota.
Effect of culture conditions on immunomodulation activities of lactic acid bacteria.

Academic degree Ph.D.
Self introduction

I am a newcommer to this university. I have carrior as a scientist in a food company, national institutes and academia in Japan before coming here. I am lookig forward to challengening new research field in Obihiro.

Room addressGeneral Research Building 3
Room number408
Mail address nabej atmark obihiro.ac.jp