プログラム

Speakers：Ken Kikuchi (Tokyo Women’s Medical University), Takaaki Akaike (Tohoku University),　Junji Yagi

Speakers：Kozo Saeki (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), Masato Miyake (AIST), Yasuo Suda (Kagoshima University), Noriko Tsuji (Jumonji University)

Overview：
Comprehensive Innovation Strategy in 2021 was promoted through public-private partnerships. Many efforts have strengthened joint research on biotechnology, health care, and food science, encouraging industry-academia-government innovation. In this symposium, future directions for research and developments with social impact, vigorous attempts to launch a successful startup from universities, the importance of bridging between research seeds and the life science industry's needs. We will discuss the themes of such innovative collaboration, the construction of an innovation ecosystem and challenges, and attractive strategies for Japanese Society for Bacteriology and future prospect.

Speakers：Tomoaki Ida (Tohoku University), Fanyan Wei (Tohoku University), Keisuke Kamata (Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association), Hiroyuki Kobayashi (Shionogi & Co., Ltd.), Toshio Sato (Japan Microbial Research Institute)

Overview：
This particular session will deal with the frontier of the development of pandemic monitoring technology going on worldwide. In fact, the lectures will cover the various fields of infectious diseases and breath omics or aeromics science and technology, which in turn will shed light on not only preventive strategy for microbial pandemics but also geoscience and SDGs as well.

Speakers：Masato Suzuki (National Institute of Infectious Diseases), Yoshihiko Hoshino (National Institute of Infectious Diseases), Hiroki Nagai (Gifu University), Masaki Shintani (Shizuoka University), Yohei Katsuyama (The University of Tokyo), Masanori Toyofuku (University of Tsukuba)

Overview：
Microbiology ranges from basic biological research using model microorganisms, to basic medical research on pathogenic microorganisms that cause infectious diseases, and to applied microbiological research on microorganisms that produce industrial products. Recently it has been required to study microbial communities not only at the whole population level, but also at the single-cell level, to understand the true structures and dynamics. Significant progress has been made in culturing various kinds of microorganisms and/or single-cell analysis techniques without cultivation, which are making it possible to analyze yet-to-be cultivated and non-culturable microorganisms. In this symposium, six researchers, who are working on the individual microorganisms in various microbial communities using innovative technologies, will give talks. This symposium will be held as a joint symposium of the Japan Society for Bacteriology and the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biochemistry, and Agrochemistry. We hope that it could help the members of both societies to deepen their understanding of interdisciplinary research and promote collaboration.

Speakers：Takuya Shiota (Miyazaki University), Yosuke Tashiro (Shizuoka University), Shinji Watanabe (Kanazawa University), Yohei Hizukuri (Kyoto University), Daisuke Shiomi (Rikkyo University)

Overview：
Bacterial cells respond immediately to external/surface stress and have many systems for survival in various environments. Previous studies on stress response have mainly focused on understanding of increased/decreased number of molecules involved in the responses inside of cells. Understanding of stress responses at cell surface, on the one hand, have been delayed due to technical restrictions. Recent innovations in microbiological, biochemical, and microscopic methodologies have made it possible to control cell surface and to finely observe the surface of living cells. In this symposium, we would like to discuss bacterial survival strategies against various stresses from the viewpoint of changes in surface structures.

Speakers：Kazuhiko Miyanaga (Tokyo Institute of Technology), Katsumi Doi (Kyushu University), Yoshihiko Sakaguchi (Kitasato University), Satoshi Uematsu (Osaka City University), Tadashi Imanishi (Tokai University), Jumpei Fujiki (Rakuno Gakuen University)

Overview：
Recently, phage therapy has been attracting attention again due to the increasingly serious problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In addition, with the increasing use of next-generation sequencers, the bacterial and viral flora in nature and in living organisms have been clarified, and the genome analysis of both isolated bacteria and phages can now be performed rapidly and accurately. As a result, the principle of competition for survival between bacteria and phage has been gradually revealed. These findings provide important hints to improve the efficiency of phage therapy, including phage screening, cocktailing, breeding, and synthesis. In this symposium, specialists in genome analysis and phage research will gather to share the latest research results, and discuss how genomic information can be used to clarify the way of life of bacteria and phages to deliver high-performance phages to the clinical site.

Speakers：Takaaki Akaike (Tohoku University), Hisashi Arase (Osaka University), Takao Hashiguchi (Kyoto University), Hirotaka Kanuka (Jikei Medical University), Ichiro Nakagawa (Kyoto University)

Overview：
The SARS-CoV2 infection that started in 2020 has become a pandemic, and biodefense research is becoming more and more important. In addition to research related to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, it is necessary to search for new treatment methods from various perspectives, such as the origin and mutation of pathogens and drug discovery using engineering methods. In this symposium, not only bacteria and fungi, but also viruses, parasites, etc. are being promoted on the biological defense mechanism that treats foreign substances and some of the self-components and maintains the independence and homeostasis of individuals. We will introduce the latest findings from researchers in various fields regarding the mechanism of defense mechanism against pathogens from a new perspective.

Speakers：Michinaga Ogawa (National Institute of Infectious Diseases), Ken Kikuchi (Tokyo Women's Medical University), Tomoko Sumitomo (Osaka University), Norihiko Takemoto (National Center for Global Health and Medicine), Atsushi Tabata (Tokushima University), Takashi Nozawa (Kyoto University)

Overview：
The genus Streptococcus includes clinically important pathogenic bacteria such as group A streptococcus and Streptococcus pneumoniae, research on these bacterial properties and bacterial toxins has been carried out for a long time. In recent years, novel immune evasion strategies and host responses that lead to the elucidation of the pathogenic mechanism of streptococcal infections, as well as the clinical importance of human-resident opportunistic streptococcal infections have been elucidated. In this symposium, we focus on analysis of bacterial factors (pathogenic factors and genomic diversity) and host factors (innate immunity and stress response) in group A streptococcus and pneumococcal infection, human resident anginosas and mitis group, and the latest topics related to various streptococci. We also think about the problems of streptococcal infection research from a bacteriological point of view and future issues.

Speakers：Keiji Nakamura (Kyushu University), Masamitsu Kono (Wakayama Medical University), Shouji Yamamoto (National Institute of Infectious Diseases), Hirokazu Suzuki (Tottori University), Kazuya Morikawa (University of Tsukuba), Tsutomu Sato (Hosei University)

Overview：
Many bacteria have the characteristic of producing phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity. Bacteria that have been subjected to selective pressure due to stress, such as in the host environment, acquire genomic heterogeneity and form a diverse bacterial cell population to counteract it. Some bacterial populations raised like that can survive adverse conditions and grow and adapt to the environment. Bacteria are known to introduce reversible genomic mutations such as the following to form diverse populations: phase variations (slip strand mispairing, promoter inversion, etc.), nucleotide polymorphisms due to replication errors, more extensive rearrangements such as deletions and insertions, or genomic rearrangements mediated by mobile genetic elements such as transposons, insertion sequences, and bacteriophages. We would like to discuss the reversible mutations and adaptations that shape bacterial diversity, including new analytical methods.

Speakers：Tetsuro Matsunaga (Tohoku University), Hozumi Motohashi (Tohoku University), Shinji Masuda (Tokyo Institute of Technology), Tomohiro Sawa (Kumamoto University), Akira Nishimura (Nara Institute of Science and Technology)

Overview：
Sulfur is a sole element that can form covalent bonding to each other, called catenation, resulting in the production of polysulfides. Polysulfides thus formed exhibit significantly enhanced nucleophilicity as well as electrophilicity to act as supersulfides. Recent advances in analytical approaches have revealed that supersulfide species are present abundantly in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. This symposium will provide the forum for discussing newly discovered biological functions of supersulfide species. Topics include basic science of supersulfides, electron transfer regulated by supersulfides in energy metabolism, transcriptional regulation as well as stress responses/drug resistance in bacteria, longevity regulation by supersulfides in yeast, and future perspectives.

Speakers：Manabu Ato (National Institute of Infectious Diseases), Toru Hifumi (St. Luke’s International Hospital), Teruhito Yasui (National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition), Shin-Ichiro Miyashita (Tokyo University of Agriculture)

Overview：
Many kinds of infections have been overcome by the development of serum therapies and vaccines, discovery of antibiotics, and improvement of environmental health. On the other hand, emerging (re-emerging) infectious diseases and multi-drug resistant bacteria are still raging worldwide. To prevent these infections, developing effective infection control methods instead of antibiotics, and updating conventional treatments are required. Antibody formulations have high specificity and diversity against the target molecules and are being applied to various diseases with advances in basic technology. In recent years, techniques for providing excellent pharmacokinetics and high safety to these antibody formulations have also developed.
In this symposium, we will introduce new strategies of infection control with antibody formulation. We would like to discuss the importance, capability and problems of each strategy. We hope that this symposium will facilitate the development of novel infection control methods.

Speakers：Shunsuke Sakai (National Institutes of Health), Akihito Nishiyama (Niigata University), Ho Namkoong (Keio University), Hiromitsu Hara (Kagoshima University)

Overview：
In addition to global health problem caused by tuberculosis, high prevalence of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) disease has been revealed in Japan, which emphasizes importance of mycobacterial research. The GWAS study has revealed the host genes that determine susceptibility to pulmonary NTM infections in Japan, and is expected to elucidate the pathogenesis of pulmonary NTM diseases. In the field of infection immunity, Japanese researchers are leading the studies on the host recognition of glycolipids characteristic of mycobacteria and following immune regulation. In the field of tuberculosis research, studies focusing on MAIT cells are providing a deep understanding of tuberculosis immunity. Moreover, studies on the organization of mycobacterial genomic structures have been elucidating the characteristics of mycobacterial persisters during latent infection. In this symposium, we will provide presentations on wide variety of mycobacterial researches with various fields and methods, which have been discussed in The Society of Researchers for Mycobacteriology in Japan. We hope that both speakers and audiences will share interest in mycobacterial research and the symposium exploit new dimension of bacteriology research fields.

Speakers：Keigo Ueno (National Institute of Infectious Diseases), Ho Namkoong (Keio University), Daisuke Yamanaka (Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences), Izumi Chuma (Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine), Takahiro Takazono (Nagasaki University)

Overview：
Based on the theme of this annual meeting, "The Future of Bacteriology as Seen through Diversity," we will have presentations on research related to mycology by researchers with various backgrounds such as medicine, pharmacy and various experiences such as the opportunity to study abroad and conduct joint research with overseas researchers. We would like to encourage young researchers (including students) who are thinking of becoming mycology or bacteriology researchers or who are interested in studying abroad.

Speakers：Sho Amatsu (Kanazawa University), Kentaro Tsukamoto (Fujita Health University), Hiroyasu Tsutsuki (Kumamoto University), Hideaki Tsuge (Kyoto Sangyo University), Yasuhiko Horiguchi (Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University)

Overview：
Most pathogenic bacteria exert their pathogenicity by producing virulence factors having various biological activities, generally called “toxins”, to survive in the host. Since many bacterial toxins are closely related to the pathogenesis of bacterial infectious diseases in the host, their research has been extensively conducted from basic to clinical fields. Especially, in recent years, the detail of the structures and functions of the bacterial toxins are remarkably progressing according to the novel and useful methods for analysis with exhaustive and high sensitivity. In addition, due to the recent progression of the study about the molecular functions of bacterial toxins, the suggestions that the relationship of the bacterial toxins to the pathogenicity of the disfunctions that had not revealed their cause until now. According to these situations, the field of study about bacterial toxins is refocused in recent years. In this session, we would like to provide the novel information about bacterial toxins and the opportunity to discuss about the field of bacterial toxins to depart the further stage of the investigation.

Speakers：Jin Gohda (The University of Tokyo), Kazuhisa Okada (Osaka University), Keinosuke Okamoto (Okayama University), Taichiro Takemura (Nagasaki University), Yasuhiko Suzuki (Hokkaido University)

Overview：
Japan Program for Infectious Diseases Research and Infrastructure has been conducted in ten bases abroad by Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development. It has become clear by COVID-19 that various emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases appeared in the world and the diseases have spread beyond the border. In this symposium, actively involving scientists in various overseas bases such as China, India, Thailand, Vietnam and Zambia will present the most recent data regarding basic, epidemiologic and diagnostic and therapeutic measures development researches on viral diseases including COVID-19, bacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance. Based on their presentation and the research outcome, we will further discuss the issues to be solved and future perspective for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

Speakers：Tohru Minamino (Osaka University), Seiji Kojima (Nagoya University), Norihiro Takekawa (Osaka University), Tomoya Tsukazaki (Nara Institute of Science and Technology), Katsumasa Irie (Wakayama Medical University), Satoshi Tsunoda (Nagoya Institute of Technology)

Overview：
Transmembrane protein complexes exert complex and important functions in the cell membrane to maintain the robust vital activity of cells. Many transmembrane protein complexes utilize the electrochemical potential difference of ions across the cell membrane to exert their biological functions such as motility, ion flow, protein translocation and so on. Interestingly, these membrane protein complexes autonomously regulate their unique and specific activities in response not only to changes in the environments but also to life cycle of cells. Recently, high-resolution crystal and cryo-EM structures of many different transmembrane protein complexes have been solved, and many unexpected functional mechanisms have been clarified at the atomic level. In addition, comparisons of abundant genomic and structural information have identified unexpected functional domains in known transmembrane ion channels, which are widely conserved from bacteria to mammals. As a result, it is now possible for us to consider the ancestral types of the transmembrane ion channel proteins. Here, we will discuss our current understanding of the operation mechanisms of six different bacterial membrane protein complexes.

Speakers：Takafumi Kato (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Tsutomu Yoshihara (Yokohama City University), Sayaka Katagiri (Tokyo Medical and Dental University), Sho Kitamoto (The University of Michigan Medical School)

Overview：
The oral cavity is composed of a large number of types of bacterial flora due to complex environmental factors such as connection with the outside world and the presence of hard and soft tissues. In addition, a unique niche is formed for each site due to the complicated oral environment. In such a complicated and special environment, oral infections have been reported to cause not only caries and periodontal disease but also various diseases.
At this symposium, researchers who have reported interesting research in recent years will give a lecture on the etiology of various diseases caused by oral bacteria or infectious diseases in the oral environment. Diseases previously thought to be unrelated to the oral cavity may develop by mechanisms related to the oral cavity. The purpose of this academic project is to understand the mechanism by which such diseases of unknown etiology develop due to the pathogenesis through the oral cavity, and to contribute to the understanding of the pathogenesis of diseases outside the oral cavity.

Speakers：Keita Nishiyama (Keio University), Satoru Fukiya (Hokkaido University), Kana Yahagi (Yakult Central Institute), Toshitaka Odamaki (Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.), Mikiyasu Sakanaka (Kyoto University)

Overview：
It is becoming increasingly apparent that the bacterial ecosystem in our gut has a profound influence on human health and/or disease. The gut microbiota modulation becomes a promising target for disease prevention and treatment. Bifidobacteria are one of the major constituents of the human gut microbiota throughout human life and a large number of bifidobacterial strains have been isolated and characterized. Genome and phenotype analyses of these strains have been provided important insights into how does bifidobacteria colonize and predominate in this ecosystem. So far, key factor for oligosaccharide utilization, short-chain fatty acid production, adhesion to mucosal surface, and amino acids metabolism of this genus are actively investigated. In this workshop, we will discuss recent progress on mechanism and significance of the development of Bifidobacteria-dominated microbiota in human gut, which will be an important step for controlling this microbial ecosystem for disease prevention.

Speakers：Shinichi Shimada (Saitama Institute of Public Health), Naoshi Ando (Chiba Prefectural Institute of Public Health), Shunsuke Yahiro (Kumamoto Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environmental Science), Tetsuya Kakita (Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment), Maho Kawamura (Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health)

Overview：
In recent years, the environment surrounding us has drastically changed due to the diversification of food and leisure and the complication of the food distribution process. In addition, as the tourist traffic from Japan and abroad increases, the risk of travel-related infectious diseases is also increasing. To understand the infectious diseases and to take precaution against them, it is indispensable to analyze the cases in detail and to grasp accurately the problems.
In this workshop, we take up the characteristic cases of various infectious diseases that occurred in the recent years. And we are planning to discuss how we should collect the epidemiological data and understand the etiological agents.

Speakers：Ken Kikuchi (Tokyo Women’s Medical University), Takashi Sugita (Meiji Pharmaceutical University), Koichi Tanabe (Ryukoku University), Makoto Urai (Tokyo University of Agriculture), Hiroji Chibana (Chiba University)

Overview：
The pathogenic yeast Candida or Cryptococcus spp. have frequently been isolated from blood or cerebrospinal fluid. The prognosis for invasive fungal infections is normally poor. The number of invasive fungal infections is increasing due to increased number of immune compromised hosts and complexed conditions of the patients. The limited number of antifungal agents and the lack of appropriate diagnosis methods also made the clinical circumstances worse. Candida auris or Cryptococcus gattii are the newly emerging pathogenic yeast species, which sometimes causes nosocomial or local outbreaks, respectively. They require intensive epidemiological studies and detailed analyses of virulence to prevent the prevalence of fungal infections. In this symposium, we will introduce five topics regarding virulence, new diagnostic methods, and the development of antifungal drugs for yeast infections, which can contribute to the control of yeast infections.