■Pleurocybella porrigens
急性脳症を引き起こしたスギヒラタケの毒物質に関する研究
Chemical elucidation of acute encephalopathy caused by the mushroom Pleurocybella porrigens.
スギヒラタケは東北、北陸、中部地方を中心に広く食用とされてきたキノコですが、2004年以降、スギヒラタケの摂食者が急性脳症を発病しました。本研究室では、天然物化学的手法を用いて、スギヒラタケの毒性物質の探索を行っています。
Pleurocybella porrigens (Angel’s wings in English; Sugihiratake in Japanese) is widespread and common throughout temperature regions of the world. It has been consumed worldwide for a long time. However, in 2004, 55 people were poisoned by consuming this mushroom, and 17 of them died of acute encephalopathy. We are searching for toxic compounds from this mushroom.
■Cordyceps militaris
冬虫夏草（サナギタケ）の感染過程において発現する遺伝子の解析
Transcriptomic analysis on the infection process of the fungus Cordyceps militaris.
冬虫夏草は昆虫などから生じるキノコの総称で、その一種である冬虫夏草Cordyceps militaris (サナギタケ)は鱗翅目昆虫の蛹の病原体です。この菌の感染から寄生そして子実体形成における詳細なメカニズムは未だ不明なため、これらを解明することはこの種の菌の生産及び栽培にも有用な情報となることが期待されます。そこで本研究室では次世代シーケンサーを用いた網羅的解析を行い、その解明に取り組んでいます。
The fungi belonging to the Ascomycete genus Cordyceps are endoparasitoids and parasite mainly on insects and other arthropods. This genus is usually called “Tochukaso” in Japanese and includes about 500 species. The species Cordyceps militaris has been used as a therapeutic drug for cancer patients in China for a long time. However, the detailed mechanisms of infection, parasitism, and fruiting body formation of this fungus are still unknown. We are currently conducting the transcriptomic analysis using the next-generation sequencer.
その他キノコ類の遺伝情報の解読や機能性物質の探索
Genetic sequence analysis and characterization of bioactive compounds in other fungi.
その他生物学的に特徴的なキノコ類の研究も精力的に行っています。
We are also energetically researching other biologically unique fungi, mainly mushrooms.
