Department of Biological Functions and Regulation

Laboratory of Microbial Control

Historically, research on intestinal flora primarily focused on identifying the composition of gut microorganisms. Since the 1990s, studies connecting intestinal flora to human health have expanded significantly due to advancements in molecular biology. Furthermore, in recent years, the development of metagenome analysis, which makes it possible to comprehensively examine the genes of microbial communities, has suggested that intestinal flora may be involved in obesity, diabetes, allergies, and even mental disorders. Traditionally, mice have been the leading research models for intestinal flora; however, some human intestinal bacteria species are difficult to colonize in mice. Against this background, we have begun research on intestinal bacteria using marmosets, which are genetically and physiologically similar to those of humans. We have established a method for producing germ-free marmosets using vinyl isolators and continuing our research with marmosets that replicate human intestinal flora. In the future, we aim to develop more efficient breeding methods and various animal models of the human intestinal flora that contribute to human health.

微生物制御研究室画像
※References
  1. Production of a heterozygous exon skipping model of common marmosets using gene-editing technology.
    Sato K, Sasaguri H, Kumita W, Sakuma T, Morioka T, Nagata K, Inoue T, Kurotaki Y, Mihira N, Tagami M, Manabe RI, Ozaki K, Okazaki Y, Yamamoto T, Suematsu M, Saido TC, Sasaki E.
    Lab Anim (NY). 2024 Sep 53(9):244-251.
  2. The common marmoset in biomedical research: experimental disease models and veterinary management.
    Inoue T, Yurimoto T, Seki F, Sato K, Sasaki E.
    Exp Anim. 2023 May 17;72(2):140-150.
  3. Genetic engineering in nonhuman primates for human disease modeling.
    Sato K, Sasaki E.
    J Hum Genet. 2018 Feb; 63(2):125-131.
  4. Generation of a Nonhuman Primate Model of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Using Highly Efficient Genome Editing.
    Sato K, Oiwa R, Kumita W, Henry R, Sakuma T, Ito R, Nozu R, Inoue T, Katano I, Sato K, Okahara N, Okahara J, Shimizu Y, Yamamoto M, Hanazawa K, Kawakami T, Kametani Y, Suzuki R, Takahashi T, Weinstein EJ, Yamamoto T, Sakakibara Y, Habu S, Hata J, Okano H, Sasaki E.
    Cell Stem Cell 2016 Jul 19(1): 127-38.

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