Osaka University team finds clue in microbiota for rheumatoid arthritis
Based on extracted DNA samples and shotgun sequencing collected from stool of 82 untreated rheumatoid arthritis patients and 42 healthy subjects, the team of OKADA Toshihiro at Osaka University School of Medicine has found that some species of Prevotella are significantly increased in the microbiome of rheumatoid arthritis patients. It could not be concluded whether the increase of Prevotella is the cause or the result of disease. However, since the stool of patients at an early stage was analyzed, the finding may be used as a risk prediction marker. As there was no significant difference in the metagenomic diversity between patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy individuals, dysbiosis did not seem to be related to rheumatoid arthritis.
Nikkei Biotech news release, November 11, 2019
Osaka University team finds clue in microbiota for rheumatoid arthritis
Based on extracted DNA samples and shotgun sequencing collected from stool of 82 untreated rheumatoid arthritis patients and 42 healthy subjects, the team of OKADA Toshihiro at Osaka University School of Medicine has found that some species of Prevotella are...
Japanese startups develop “lifestyle guidance AI system” using intestinal environment information
Metagen Co. and MOLCURE Co., two Japanese startups, will established an AI-based system that predicts optimal weight loss using information about an individual's intestinal environment. The AI system will provide guidance and support for improving lifestyle...
NEDO adopts 7 new themes for regional biomass energy use
In a demonstration project, Tottori Prefecture aims to build a biomass energy utilization energy which does not rely any longer on feed-in tariffs and subsidies. In this project, biomass steam boilers will be installed that use building waste chips as fuel, and waste...
NEDO starts biojet fuel feasibility test, focus on supply chain
In addition to establishing integrated production technology for pure bio-jet fuel, supply chain construction including raw material procurement, product supply, commercialization schemes and economic efficiency will be considered in order to promote the realization...
NEDO establishes Bioeconomy Promotion Office, adds bioeconomic unit at Technology Strategic Research Center
The overall strategic goal is “to realize the world's most advanced bio economy society in 2030”. New budget requests for FY2020 include 2 billion yen for “Development of bio-based production technology that accelerates the realization of carbon recycling”, 850...
Hitachi Zosen builds CO2-to-methane (methanation) test facility
A test facility for synthesizing methane from CO2 and hydrogen was completed on the Koshijihara plant site of Nagaoka Mine in Niigata Prefecture. Tests and continuous operation will be conducted through the end of 2019. In this test facility, methane is produced by...
“Spider silk” containing „moon parka” limited edition on sale from Goldwin, Japan
In collaboration with the startup company Spiber https://www.spiber.jp, Japan’s sportswear producer Goldwin has offered a web-based lottery for the purchase of 50 pieces of a ski jacket named “moon parka” made from 3 layers, the outermost one of Spiber’s “spider silk”...
Showa Chemical Industry adds woody biomass module to plant’s LNG heat generator
Under a contract from NEDO, the company has put into operation in its Okayama plant a woody biomass heat generator, using surplus woody biomass such as bark produced in local areas. Liquid natural gas (LNG) and heat from woody biomass will be used, according to...
Japan’s government tries to popularize genome editing by a “BioStation” website
The website https://bio-sta.jp/contains information on latest breeding results and explains in much detail the technology behind these results. Projects include deletion of target genes which result in tomatoes with high GABA content, potatoes without solanine, and...
COTO LABO consortium strives for better life science data
Eight companies have joined Shimadzu Corporation in an attempt to obtain better reproducible data in the life sciences such as drug-related research. 53 ring tests among these companies had shown that reproducibility of data was indeed low. 8 companies (iPS Portal,...
NEDO consortium improves microbial bioproduction by AI
In this project, it is planned to build a data infrastructure system for collecting and sharing data which correlate optical and electrochemical sensor data that have not yet been used at bio-production sites (bioproduction management using convolutional data). An AI...
Genome editing provides high-sugar content tomatos: Nagoya University
Katsuhiro SHIRATAKE of Nagoya University and coworkers from RIKEN have achieved the development of a high-fructose tomato by disrupting the INVINH gene, encoding an invertase inhibitor. As genome editing tools, a CRISPR / Cas9 vector and Target-AID vector targeting...