Harmful Algae Control Section
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"Red tide" is formed by significant increase in abundance of phytoplankton, and often causes serious damages on fisheries. Even now at the beginning of the 21th century, we mankind have not succeeded in developing rational and practical techniques for controlling harmful algal blooms. Our objective is to find a method how we can utilize marine environments more effectively by controlling algal blooms by using the "function" of marine microorganisms. We have continued studies on the mechanism of red tide disintegration, and characterized some "anti-red tide microorganisms" such as viruses. We hope to establish a practical and safe method to control harmful algal blooms.
[Research interests]
Viral impacts on harmful algal blooms
Red tide disintegration mechanism
Diversity of host algae and their viruses
Microalgal viruses (focusing on viruses that infect Heterosigma akashiwo, Heterocapsa circularisquama, Rhizosolenia setigera, Chaetoceros salsugineum, Chaetoceros spp., Microcystis aeruginosa)
Virus genomic analysis
Cyanobacterial bloom termination mechanism
Inhibition of cyst formation and germination of harmful algal species
Studeis on phages infecting harmful bloom forming blue-green algae (ex. Microcystis aeruginosa)
[People]
Keizo Nagasaki (chief)
Yuji Tomaru (PD)
Hiroyuki Mizumoto (PD)
Yoko Shirai (MD)
Yoshitake Takao (PD)
[Publications]
Recent articles
[Collaboration with other institutes and organisations]
Dr. Daiske Honda, (Konan Univ)
Dr. Nobuo Kamiya, Dr. Hisashi Naito (Riken Harima Inst. at SPring-8)
Mr. Hiroshi Tanabe, Ms. Noriko Shisa (SDS BIOTECH K.K.)
Dr. Tetsuro Okuno, Dr. Kazuyuki Mise (Kyoto Univ.)
Dr. Takashi Yoshida, Dr. Shingo Hiroishi, Ms. Yukari Takashima (Fukui Pref. Univ.)