WATANABE Jun Professor

My DreamContribution to local industries from our research on food functionalities

ThemeFunctionalities of probiotic lactic acid bacteria and gut microbiota.

Field

Food functionalities, Food science, Applied microbiology

Keyword

Probiotic, Prebiotic, Intestinal microbiota, Lactic acid bacteria, Functional food

Message

大学では専門知識を身につけることも大切ですが、これからの科学技術の発展を担う人材として、講義や卒論・学位論文研究を通じて科学的な物事の考え方を身につけてもらうことが最も重要なことだと思っています。
論文発表だけでなく、地域産業の発展にもつながっていくような研究を一緒にしていきましょう。こんな研究内容がおもしろそうだとか、こんな研究がやってみたいなどありましたらどんどん聞かせてください。どうぞ気軽に研究室までお越しください。

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

Belongs

Research Department/Department of Life and Food Sciences/Division of Food Science/Section of Biomolecular Structure and Function
Faculty (Unit)Food Science Program

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 background 1991-1995 Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University
1996-1998, 1999-2001 Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University
1998-1999 Researcher, R&D Division, Kikkoman Co
2004-2008 Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Creative Reaearch Initiative Sousei, Hokkaido University
2008-2020 Senior Researcher, Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization
2020- Professor, Division of Food Science, Ubihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine