Personal record of Yasuo Kobayashi
|
Let’s explore gut ecosystem of herbivores |
Yasuo Kobayashi, Professor
of Animal Nutrition
Graduate School Hokkaido University
Deer
rumen is a source of genetic materials.
Sheep rumen ecosystem is our main field . Equine hindgut is alternative
system to be explored.
＜What is the
target？＞
The
animal has a complex but well integrated network of life that comprised of activities
for ingestion, digestion, absorption, metabolism and excretion. In particular,
herbivorous animals are characterized in developing a huge fore stomach and/or
a large bowel to digest ingested plants by symbiotic microbes. To optimize or
maximize the plant fiber digestion, understanding of the gut microbes is
essential. For instance, it should be clarified what members are really
functioning, how they are digesting plants and are interacting with other
microbes. Our research is targeted
for gut microbial ecosystem of herbivores, especially focusing plant fiber
digestion and production of functional fatty acids such as butyrate and n-3
unsaturated acids.
If you are interested in studying with us, mail to kyas@anim.agr.hokudai.ac.jp
＜Profile＞
Educational
background and Career
Mar., 1975:
Graduated from Ayabe Highschool
Mar., 1975: BSc. of Animal Science, Faculty of
Agriculture, Hokkaido University
Mar., 1981: MSc. of Animal Science, Graduate School
of Agriculture, Hokkaido University
Apr., 1982: Assistant Researcher of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture,
Mie University
Apr., 1988: Assistant Researcher of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioresources, Mie University
Jun., 1991: PhD. from Hokkaido University for “Studies on mechanisms
involved in the efficacy of the ionophore salinomycin on ruminant nutrition”
Apr., 1993: Assistant Professor of Animal
Production, Faculty of Bioresources,
Jul., 1994: Associate Professor of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioresources,
Sep., 2000: Associate Professor of Animal Nutrition, Graduate School of
Agriculture,
Apr., 2004: Professor of Animal Nutrition,
Studying abroad
Jan. - Oct., 1992: Monbusho
Scholar Scientist at Centre for Food and Animal Research (
Nov., 1992 – Jan., 1993: Visiting
Scientist at Centre for Food and Animal Research (
Jun. – Sep., 1996: Visiting Scientist at Centre for
Food and Animal Research (
Jul. – Sep., 1999: Visiting Scientist at
＜Publications＞
＜2010＞
- Watanabe, Y., R.Suzuki,
- Kobayashi, Y., A.Itoh, .K.Miyawaki, S.Koike, O.Iwabuchi, Y.Iimura, Y.Kobashi, T.Kawashima, J.Wakamatsu, A.Hattori, H.Murakami F.Morimatsu, T.Nakaebisu and
T.Hishinuma. Effect of liquid whey feeding on
fecal microbiota of mature and growing pigs.
Animal Science Journal, in press.
- Shinkai, T., T.Ueki and
Y.Kobayashi. Detection and identification of rumen bacteria constituting a
fibrolytic consortium dominated by Fibrobacter
succinogenes. Animal Science Journal, 81:72-79. 2010.
- Koike, S., Y. Handa, H.
Goto, K. Sakai, E. Miyagawa, H. Matsui, S. Ito and Y. Kobayashi. Molecular
monitoring and isolation of previously uncultured bacterial strains from
sheep rumen. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 76：1887-1894. 2010.
- Kobayashi, Y.
Abatement of methane production from ruminants: trends in the manipulation
of rumen fermentation (review). Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences,
23:410-416. 2010.
- Bekele, A.Z.，S.
Koike and Y. Kobayashi. Genetic diversity and diet specificity of ruminal Prevotella
revealed by 16S rDNA-based analysis. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 305:49-57.
2010.
- Hiura, T., Y.Hashidoko,
Y.Kobayashi and S.Tahara.
Effective degradation of tannic acid by immobilized rumen microbes of a sika deer (Cervus
Nippon yesoensis) in winter. Animal Feed
Science and Technology, 155:1-8. 2010.
＜2009＞
- Shinkai, T., R.Ohji,
N.Matsumoto and Y.Kobayashi. Fibrolytic capabilities of ruminal bacterium Fibrobacter succinogenes in
relation to its phylogenetic grouping. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 294: 183-190.
2009.
- Koike, S. and Y.Kobayashi. Fibrolytic
rumen bacteria: their ecology and functions (review). Asian-Australasian
Journal of Animal Sciences, 22: 131-138. 2009.
＜2008＞
- Kobayashi, Y.,
T.Shinkai and S.Koike. Ecological and physiological characterization shows
that Fibrobacter succinogenes is important in rumen fiber digestion
(review). Folia Microbiologica, 53:195-200. 2008.
- Taguchi, H., T.Senoura,
S.Hamada, H.Matsui, Y.Kobayashi, J.Watanabe, J.Wasaki and S. Ito. Cloning and sequencing of the gene
for cellobiose 2-epimerase from a ruminal strain of Eubacterium cellulosolvens. FEMS Microbiol Lett.;287: 34-40. 2008.
- Yamano, H.,
S.Koike, Y.Kobayashi and H.Hata. Phylogenetic analysis of
hindgut microbiota in Hokkaido native horses compared to light horses.
Animal Science Journal, 79:234-242.2008.
＜2007＞
- Yabuuchi, Y.,
M.Tani,Y.Matsushita, H.Otsuka and Y.Kobayashi.
Effects of lauric acid on physical, chemical and microbial characteristics
in the rumen of steers on a high-grain diet. Animal Science Journal
78:387-394.2007.
- Shinkai, T.,
N.Matsumoto and Y.Kobayashi. Ecological characterization of three
different phylogenetic groups belonging to the cellulolytic bacterial
species Fibrobacter succinogenes in the rumen. Animal Science
Journal, 78：503-511.2007.
- Kozakai, K.,
T.Nakamura, Y.Kobayashi, T.Tanigawa, I.Osaka, S.Kawamoto and S.Hara.
Effect of mechanical processing of corn silage on in vitro ruminal
fermentation, in situ bacterial colonization and dry matter degradation.
Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 87：259-267.2007.
- Koike, S.,
H.Yabuki and Y.Kobayashi. Validation and application of real-time PCR
assays for representative rumen bacteria. Animal Science Journal, 78:
135-141. 2007.
- Kobayashi, Y. and H.B.I.El-Sawy. Year-round monitoring of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli from feces
of dairy cattle. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 20:
789-794. 2007
- Shinkai, T.
and Y.Kobayashi. Localization of ruminal
cellulolytic bacteria on plant fibrous materials as determined by
fluorescence in situ hybridization and real-time PCR. Applied and
Environmental Microbiology, 73: 1646-1652. 2007.
- Sung, H.G., Y.Kobayashi, J.S.Chang, A.Ha and J.K.Ha. Low ruminal pH reduces dietary fiber digestion via reduced
microbial attachment. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 20:
200-207. 2007.
＜2006＞
- Kobayashi, Y.
Inclusion of novel bacteria in rumen microbiology: needs for basic and
applied science (review). Animal Science Journal, 77: 375-385.
- Kobayashi, Y.,
S.Koike, M.Miyaji, H.Hata and K.Tanaka. Hindgut microbes, fermentation and
their seasonal variations in Hokkaido native horses compared to light
horses. Ecological Research, 21: 285-291. 2006.
- Sawanon, S.
and Y.Kobayashi. Synergistic
fibrolysis in the rumen by cellulolytic Ruminococcus flavefaciens and
non-cellulolytic Selenomonas ruminantium :
evidence in defined cultures. Animal Science Journal, 77: 208-214.2006.
- Yabuuchi, Y.,
Y.Matsushita, H.Otsuka, K.Fukamachi and Y.Kobayashi. Effects of
supplemental lauric acid-rich oils to high grain diet on in vitro rumen
fermentation. Animal Science Journal, 77: 300-307.2006.
＜2004＞
- Koike, S.,
J.Pan, T.Suzuki, T.Takano, C.Oshima, Y.Kobayashi and K.Tanaka. Ruminal
distribution of the cellulolytic bacterium Fibrobacter succinogenes in relation to its phylogenetic
grouping. Animal Science Journal, 75:417-422.
- Taguchi, H.,
S.Koike. Y.Kobayashi, I.K.O.Cann and S.Karita, Partial characterization of
structure and function of a xylanase gene from the rumen hemicellulolytic
bacterium Eubacterium ruminantium.
Animal Science Journal, 75：325-332. 2004.
- Ichimura, Y.,
H.Yamano, T.Takano, S.Koike, Y.Kobayashi, K.Tanaka, N.Ozaki,
M.Suzuki, H.Okada, M.Yamanaka, Rumen microbes and fermentation of wild sika deer on the Shiretoko
peninsula of Hokkaido island, Japan. Ecological Research, 19:389-395. 2004.
- Selim, A.S.M., J. Pan, T. Takano, T. Suzuki, S. Koike,
Y. Kobayashi and K. Tanaka. Effect
of ammonia treatment on physical strength of rice straw, distribution of
straw particles and particle-associated bacteria in sheep rumen. Animal
Feed Science and Technology, 115:117-128. 2004.
- Kobayashi, Y., S.Koike, H.Taguchi, H.Itabashi, D.K.Kam and J.K.Ha. Recent advances in gut
microbiology and their possible contribution to animal health and
production (review). Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal
Sciences, 17:877-884. 2004.
- Kobayashi, Y., M.Sato, H.Taguchi,
S.Koike, H.Nakatsuji, K.Tanaka. Molecular detection of verotoxigenic
Escherichia coli (VTEC) from
animal feces for screening VTEC-shedders. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 17:423-427.
2004.
＜2003＞
- Koike, S.,
S.Yoshitani, Y.Kobayashi and K.Tanaka. Phylogenetic analysis of
fiber-associated rumen bacterial community and PCR detection of uncultured
bacteria. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 229：23-30. 2003.
- Kobayashi, Y., Recombinant rumen bacteria:
problems and opportunities (review). Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews,
73:51-59.2003.
- Kobayashi, Y.,
H.Taguchi, T.N.Goto, S.Koike and K.Ohmiya. Expression and export of a Ruminococcus albus cellulase in Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens through
the use of an alternative gene promoter and signal sequence. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 49:375-382. 2003.
- Kwang, C.J., An, B.K., K.H.Shinn, Y.Kobayashi and K.Tanaka. Excessive dietary conjugated linoleic acid affects hepatic lipid content and
muscular fatty acid composition in young chicks. Asian-Australasian
Journal of Animal Sciences, 16:1171-1176. 2003.
- Tanaka, K., An, B.K., C.W.Kang, Y.Izumi and Y.Kobayashi. Effects of dietary fat sources on
occurrences of conjugated linoleic acid and trans fatty
acids in rumen contents. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences,
16:222-226. 2003.
- Pan, J., S.Koike, T.Suzuki, K.Ueda, Y.Kobayashi, K.Tanaka, and M.Okubo. Effect of mastication on degradation of orchardgrass hay stem by rumen microbes: fibrolytic enzyme acitivities
and microbe attachment. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 106:69-79.
2003.
- Koike, S., J.Pan,
Y.Kobayashi and K.Tanaka. Kinetics of in
sacco fiber-attachment of representative
ruminal cellulolytic bacteria monitored by competitive PCR. Journal of
Dairy Science, 86:1429-1435. 2003.
- Pan,J., T.Suzuki, S.Koike, K.Ueda, Y.Kobayashi, K.Tanaka, and M.Okubo. Effects of urea infused into the rumen on liquid- and particle-associated fibrolytic enzyme activities in steers fed low quality grass hay. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 104:413-27. 2003.
- Kopecny, J., R.Marinsek-Logar, M.Zorec, J.Marazek and
Y.Kobayashi. Butyrivibrio hungatei sp.nov., and Pseudobutyrivibrio xylanovorans sp.nov., butyrate producing bacteria from the rumen. Internatinal
Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Bacteriology.,
53:201-209. 2003.
＜2002＞
- Selim, A.S.M., K.Ueda, Y.Kobayashi and K.Tanaka.
Postprandial changes in particle associated ruminal
bacteria in sheep fed ammoniated rice straw. Animal Feed Science and
Technology, 102:207-215. 2002.
- Kobayashi, Y. and
M.Yamamoto. Factors that limit the maintenance of recombinant rumen
bacterium in sheep rumen. Animal Science Journal, 73:131-136.2002.
＜2001＞
- Koike, S. and
Kobayashi, Y., Development and use of competitive PCR assays for the
ruminal cellulolytic bacteria:Fibrobacter
succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus
and Ruminococcus flavefaciens.
FEMS Microbiology Letters, 204:361-366.2001.
- Kobayashi, Y., M.Yamada and M.Yamamoto. Survival of a recombinant rumen bacterium in the rumen of sheep. Animal Science Journal, 72:344-346, 2001.
- Kopecny, J., R.M.Logar and Y.Kobayashi. Phenotypic and
genetic data supporting reclassification of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens isolates. Folia Microbiol.(Praha),46:45-48,
2001.
＜2000＞
- Kobayashi, Y.,
R.J. Forster and R.M.Teather. Development
of a competitive polymerase chain reaction assay for the ruminal bacterium
Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens OB156
and its use for tracking an OB156-derived recombinant.FEMS Microbiology
Letters, 188:185-190, 2000.
- Koike, S., Y.Shingu, H.Inaba, M.Kawai, Y.Kobayashi, H.Hata, K.Tanaka and M.Okubo. Fecal
bacteria in
＜Projects and Colleagues＞
- Keywords：Herbivores,
Gut microbes, Fiber digestion, Molecular ecology, Molecular breeding, Prebiotics, Functional nutrients
Functions and ecology of gut microbes in
herbivores (cattle, sheep, horses etc.) are being explored with biochemical and
molecular biological approaches:
１. Possible control of fiber digestion based on analyses of
distribution, composition and variation of fibrolytic
microbial consortium in the gut .
２. Improvement of function of fibrolytic
gut bacteria by genetic engineering.
３. Control of gut ecosystem and environment via prebiotics such as oligosaccharides and easily digestible
fibers.
４. Challenges for enhancing production of
functional nutrients such as butyric acid and conjugated linoleic
acid.
- Joint Research Projects
Hokkaido
Prefectural Institute of Animal Science（Dr. Ohsaka） for “Higher utilization of corn silage” in 2003-2005.
Hiroshima
University （Prof. Taniguchi and Obitsu） for ”Nutrition of horses on high roughage diet”
in 2000-2002.
Ensuiko Sugar manufacturing
Lethbridge Research Centre, Canada （Drs.
Teather and Forster） for “Molecular
genetics and ecology of the rumen” since 1999.
Rowett Research Institure,
Scotland （Drs. Edwards and Wallace） for “Development of quantitative PCR assay for pathogenic rumen bacterium” in 2002.
Institute
of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech （Dr. Kopecny） for “Phylogeny of the rumen bacterium Butyrivibiriofibrisolvens” since 2000.
University
of Ljubrjana, Slovenia （Prof. Marinsek-Logar） for Genetic and
phenotypic analyses for Butyrivibirio fibrisolvens” since 2002.
＜For students＞
- We welcome students
who have curiosity, creativity and tolerance in research activity.
Students are
requested to have background of gut microbiology and animal
nutrition. Also, basic
techniques in molecular biology, microbiology and biochemistry are
required. We are happy to assist
you learn these by introducing literatures and by arranging workshop.
After a few months’ practice, you will be able to start your study on your own.
With students in Jun., 2002
＜Out of campus＞
On sunny day： Outdoor activities such
as camping, canoeing, fishing etc.
On rainy day： Reading and Playing TV
games
On any day： Beer, Coffee, TV
Miyagawa river, Mie
Limestone lake, Ontario
Mt.Muine, Hokkaido
Barato river, Hokkaido Milk river, Alberta
＜Links＞
Lab
of Animal Nutrition
Junior
Japanese
Society for Rumen Metabolism and Physiology
Japanese
Society of Microbial Ecology
Japanase
Society of Zootechnology
Lethbridge
Research Centre, Canada
Rumen Biotech, Murdock Univ., Australia
University of
Illinois, USA
AgResearch,
New Zealand
Rowett Research
Institute, UK
ERCULE, UK
Contact to