Food Biochemistry
Laboratory
Research Interest
Our research
interests relate
mainly to generation of new peptides therapy (Bio-peptides) from avian
egg, human milk and Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) against infectious
diseases, using genetic, molecular, and biochemical tools. The research
has potential medical benefits beyond its primary goal of basic
scientific understanding.
Bio-active Peptides Research
(Biopeptides That Heal)
Specific Interest:
With a strong background in protein/peptide chemistry, I
worked for a number of years into mechanisms of biodefense protein and
peptides systems. We were the first to uncover the functional mysteries
of several important proteins present in avian eggs and milk as a means
of developing novel therapeutic and food applications. We could
elucidate the molecular basis of the defense mechanism of lysozyme in
human milk, thought to be involved in protection of infants against
infectious diseases, and unravelled a hitherto molecular mechanistic
link between proteolytic activity in infant stomach as well as by
immune
cells and the activation of lysozyme into a powerful defense molecule.
In conjunction with genetic engineering, we could develope yeast
expression systems for the research and therapeutic applications of
bioactive peptides of human lysozyme which prevent infectious diseases.
This work involved development of a sensitive assays to measure
biological activities of recombinant peptides in biological fluids
using cell-based systems and mass spectrometry.
Other bioactive peptides, such as OTAP92 and RACOT,
generated from ovotransferrin (OTf), were also discovered. The role of
OTf peptides as mediators in destroying cancer cells and protection
against oxidative stress is elucidated, and in a collaborative projects
with food and cosmetics companies, food-derived peptides which have
potential as anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents, have been
explored. We are very much involved in innovative Biomedical Sciences
at Kagoshima University, which runs in parallel with the functional
food applications of bioactive peptides.
Mining the Secrets of Bio-defense Peptides:
Now we are exploring novel bio-peptides from new
isolates of plant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) that are associated with
yeast fermentation. The research led to the finding that LAB have many
bio-peptides and bio-macromolecules which exert biological functions
beyond expectation in the human gut.
Recent research interests relate mainly to infectious
and neurodegenerative diseases. Current projects concerned with the
development of novel drug-delivery strategy by utilizing
physicochemical and biological properties of Lysozyme to specifically
deliver water-insoluble antibiotics to the membrane of disease-causing
bacteria (pathogens), with a view to explore a novel therapeutic
potential of lysozyme for the treatment of infectious diseases.
Our Novel Drug-delivery Strategy by
Utilizing Lysozyme
Antibiotic Resistance is a Growing
Threat
