137 out of 314 isolated strains were L. lactis. The strains have been submitted for trademark applications under “Honeybee Lactobacillus lactis”. Nikkei Biotech, Jan. 29, 2013
Toyota and BMW start long-term strategic cooperation including fuel cell development
The cooperation concerning fuel cells will include the development of a stack system and a hydrogen tank motor battery, including joint decisions on specifications and standards. 2020 is indicated as a year for realization. Toyota press release, January 24, 2012
Keio University researchers succeed in regenerating hair follicles in nude mice using human iPS cells
The experiments were done by Professor Yoshiyuki OKANO and Dr Manabu OYAMA of Keio’s Medical Department’s Dermatology division, using human iPS10+ cells. Nihon Keizai Shinbun, January 23, 2013
Technology budget of Japanese government in FY2013 will be 3,6 trillion Yen (~37 billion €), about 10 billion € over plan
In a cabinet meeting on January 15, 994,9 billion Yen (~10 billion €) were cleared as supplementary budget, about 40 % for technology promotion. MEXT obtains an additional 721 billion yen, METI 152 billion yen, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of 23 billion yen, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare about 9 […]
Nisshin Oillio to introduce FOSHU powder-type soft-drink for blood sugar reduction
The drink contains difficult-to-digest dextrin from Matsutani Chemical Industry and will be marketed from March 1, 2013. FOSHU label was granted by the Consumer Agency on Oct. 24, 2012. Nisshin Oillio press release, January 15, 2012
RIKEN/Kyoto University group produces human rejuvenated antigen-specific T cells (“killer cells”) by reprogramming to pluripotency and redifferentiation
Clonally expanded antigen-specific CD8+ T cells from an HIV-1-infected patient were reprogrammed to to pluripotency. The T cell-derived induced pluripotent stem cells were then redifferentiated into CD8+ T cells that had a high proliferative capacity and elongated telomeres. These “rejuvenated” cells possessed antigen-specific killing activity and exhibited T cell receptor gene-rearrangement patterns identical to those […]
NEC develops bioplastic based on Euglena gracilis glucan
In collaboration with AIST and Miyazaki University, NEC developed biopolymer material based on ß-glucan extracted from Euglena gracilis which showed a higher glass transistion temperature than ABS NEC press release, Jan 9, 2013