Updated on 2025/04/01

写真a

YOKOTA Kenji

Professor

Title

Professor

External Link

From Graduate School 【 display / non-display

  • Tohoku University   Graduate School, Division of Agriculture   Doctoral program (second term)   Completed

    1996.04 - 2000.03

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    Country:Japan

  • Tokyo University of Agriculture   Graduate School, Division of Agriculture   Master Course   Completed

    1994.04 - 1996.03

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    Country:Japan

Studying abroad experiences 【 display / non-display

  • 2012.04 - 2013.03   University of California, Berkeley   Visiting scholar

Degree 【 display / non-display

  • 博士(農学) ( 2000.03   東北大学 )

Employment Record in Research 【 display / non-display

  • Tokyo University of Agriculture   Faculty of Applied Bio-Science   Department of Applied Biology and Chemistry   Research Assistant

    2001.04 - 2007.03

  • Tokyo University of Agriculture   Faculty of Applied Bio-Science   Department of Applied Biology and Chemistry   Assistant Professor

    2007.04 - 2012.09

  • Tokyo University of Agriculture   Faculty of Applied Bio-Science   Department of Applied Biology and Chemistry   Associate Professor

    2012.10 - 2018.03

  • Tokyo University of Agriculture   Faculty of Applied Bio-Science   Department of Agricultural Chemistry   Associate Professor

    2018.04 - 2019.03

  • Tokyo University of Agriculture   Faculty of Applied Bio-Science   Department of Agricultural Chemistry   Professor

    2019.04

External Career 【 display / non-display

  • 東北大学大学院   農学研究科農芸化学専攻   日本学術振興会特別研究員

    2000.04 - 2001.03

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    Country:Japan

Research Areas 【 display / non-display

  • Life Science / Applied microbiology

Papers 【 display / non-display

  • Involvement of iturin and surfactin in inhibition of a post-harvest fungal pathogen on green bell pepper Reviewed International coauthorship International journal

    Yuliar, Shun Tomita, Hinako Hishinuma, Kenji Yokota

    Journal of Plant Protection Research   2025.03

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    Authorship:Last author   Language:English   Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)  


    This study aimed to investigate the potential of plant-associated bacteria as bio-control agents for the green bell pepper rot lesion caused by Colletotrichum scovillei 244830. A total of 378 bacteria strains isolated from stems and leaves of healthy red chili and tomato were tested for their antagonistic potential. Isolate TS001 associated with tomato stems was identified as Bacillus spp. It was found that TS001 showed remarkable inhibition to C. scovillei 244830 in in vitro and in vivo tests. TS001 significantly reduced rot lesions (P<0.05) of fresh green bell pepper fruits by 71.43%. Furthermore, the result of the LC-ESI-MS/MS showed that the culture broth of the strain Bacillus sp. TS001 contained iturin and surfactin homolog in No. 3S medium. TS001 exhibited the strongest antagonistic activity that effectively suppressed C. scovillei 244830 rot lesion.

  • Characterization of NRPS operon homologue for surfactin synthesis distributed in Bacillus spp. Reviewed International journal

    Kojiro Ito, Mana Adachi, Minenosuke Matsutani, Ryota Kataoka, Gen Enomoto, Akinobu Kajikawa, Kenji Yokota

    Archives of Microbiology   2025

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    Authorship:Last author, Corresponding author   Language:English   Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)  

    Surfactin is a cyclic lipopeptide consists of a b-hydroxy fatty acid and a heptapeptide derived from Bacillus spp. The heptapeptide moiety of surfactin is synthesized by non-ribosomal peptide synthetases, and a variety of surfactin congeners which are varied by substitution of amino acid in the heptapeptide have been identified so far. Surfactin A, B and C are surfactin congeners which are substituted of Leu7 of surfactin A with Val for surfactin B or Ile for surfactin C. The operon encoding non-ribosomal peptide synthetases for surfactin A had been identified in B. subtilis JH 642. Here, we report that novel operons encoding non-ribosomal peptide synthetases for surfactin A and C biosynthesis, respectively.
    The srfA operon for surfactin A biosynthesis in B. subtilis composed by 4-ORFs, srfAABCD. The novel operon for surfactin A biosynthesis was distinct from the srfA operon in B. subtilis JCM 1465 with 68.5, 69.2, 84.5 and 66.9 % homology of ORFs, respectively. The novel surfactin C showed 68.7, 69.3, 64.5 and 67.2 % homology with srfA operon in B. subtilis JCM 1465, respectively, and the adenylation domain to select Ile7 in surfactin C was identified by a domain substitution in srfA operon in a surfactin A-producing strain. Average Nucleotide Identity of genomic sequence of tested strains clearly showed that the novel operons for surfactin A and C biosynthesis are distributed in B. velezensis and B. amyloliquefaciens, respectively. Our results indicate surfactin congener production was strictly related to the species level of Bacillus and srf operon was suggested to be distributed by species.

  • Application of the SpCas9 inhibitor BRD0539 for CRISPR/Cas9-based genetic tools in Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Reviewed

    TAMAKI Mizuna, CHIKU Tsutomu, SUZUKI Shunya, MISAKI Aya, FUNAKUBO Asuka, MATSUSHIMA Yoshitaka, YOKOTA Kenji, IGIMI Shizunobu, KAJIKAWA Akinobu

    Bioscience of Microbiota, Food and Health   44 ( 1 )   70 - 79   2024.09

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    Language:English   Publisher:BMFH Press  

    Although the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas system has been extensively developed since its discovery for eukaryotic and prokaryotic genome editing and other genetic manipulations, there are still areas warranting improvement, especially regarding bacteria. In this study, BRD0539, a small-molecule inhibitor of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9), was used to suppress the activity of the nuclease during genetic modification of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, as well as to regulate CRISPR interference (CRISPRi). First, we developed and validated a CRISPR-SpCas9 system targeting the sirA gene of L. paracasei. Then BRD0539 was used for CRISPR-dependent DNA cleavage in vivo. Our results suggested that the inhibitor worked partially in both Escherichia coli and L. paracasei. Next, we designed a CRISPRi system in a L. paracasei strain by inserting an inactive SpCas9 gene into the chromosome and introducing a plasmid encoding for a single guide RNA (sgRNA) targeting the sirA gene. Expression of sirA was successfully inhibited in the recombinant strains, and CRISPRi was abolished in an inhibitor-dependent manner. Our findings may help expand the CRISPR toolbox for research on lactic acid bacteria and other microbes.

    DOI: 10.12938/bmfh.2024-009

  • Heat-stable spores of carotenoid-producing Bacillus marisflavi and non-pigmented Bacillus subtilis cooperatively promote growth, quality, and gut microbiota of white-leg shrimp Reviewed International coauthorship International journal

    T.T. Nguyen, A.T.P. Bui, N.T.H. Le, H.T. N. Vo, A.H. Nguyen, T.D. Pham, T. Hara, K. Yokota, M. Matsutani, Y. Takatsuka, A.T.V. Nguyen

    Beneficial Microbes   2023.11

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    Language:English   Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)  

    We evaluated the benefits of heat-stable carotenoid-producing Bacillus marisflavi SH8 spores individually and in combination with non-pigmented Bacillus subtilis SH23 spores on growth, colour change, nutritional content, innate immunity, and gut microbiota of white-leg shrimp. White-leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei; n = 30 per tank; 2 tanks per group) were provided feed without (control group) or with SH8, SH23, or mixed spores (total, 1×106 cfu/g pellet) for 28 d. The SH8 and SH8-23 combination groups had significantly higher specific growth rates (9.6 and 11.0%), improved red-colour score (4 scores), astaxanthin concentration (1.8- and 2.3-fold), lipid contents (30 and 50%), and superoxidase dismutase activity (8.5 and 12.3%) than that of the control group. Analysis of shrimp’s gut microbiome using 16S rRNA metagenome sequencing revealed increased abundance of four useful species and reduced abundance of four harmful species in the combination group than in the control group. Heat-stable Bacillus spore combination improved growth parameters, nutrient content, red-colour score, live counts, and abundance of useful bacteria in the gut of L. vannamei. This is the first study to show the benefits of combining highly heat-stable pigmented and non-pigmented Bacillus spores and their possible mechanisms in a shrimp model.

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-20230041

  • Negative chemotaxis of Ligilactobacillus agilis BKN88 against gut-derived substances Reviewed International journal

    Shunya Suzuki, Kenji Yokota, Shizunobu Igimi, Akinobu Kajikawa

    Scientific Reports   13   2023.09

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    Language:English   Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)  

    Ligilactobacillus agilis is a motile lactic acid bacterium found in the gastrointestinal tracts of animals. The findings of our previous study suggest that the motility of L. agilis BKN88 enables gut colonization in murine models. However, the chemotactic abilities of motile lactobacilli remain unknown. This study aimed to identify the gut-derived chemoeffectors and their corresponding chemoreceptors in L. agilis BKN88. Chemotaxis assays with chemotactic and non-chemotactic (ΔcheA) L. agilis strains revealed that low pH, organic acids, and bile salts served as repellents. L. agilis BKN88 was more sensitive to bile and acid than the gut-derived non-motile lactobacilli, implying that L. agilis might utilize motility and chemotaxis instead of exhibiting stress tolerance/resistance. L. agilis BKN88 contains five putative chemoreceptor genes (mcp1–mcp5). Chemotaxis assays using a series of chemoreceptor mutants revealed that each of the five chemoreceptors could sense multiple chemoeffectors and that these chemoreceptors were functionally redundant. Mcp2 and Mcp3 sensed all tested chemoeffectors. This study provides further insights into the interactions between chemoreceptors and ligands of motile lactobacilli and the unique ecological and evolutionary features of motile lactobacilli, which may be distinct from those of non-motile lactobacilli.

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Books and Other Publications 【 display / non-display

  • 土壌微生物学

    太田寛行,森﨑久雄,大塚重人,渡邉健史,鮫島玲子,中川達功,佐伯雄一,礒井俊行,横田健治,豊田剛己,村瀬 潤,浦嶋泰文,藤井一至,原田直樹,西澤智康,浅川 晋,竹腰 恵( Role: Contributor)

    朝倉書店  2018.08  ( ISBN:978-4-254-43571-9

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    Total pages:208   Responsible for pages:80-87   Language:Japanese   Book type:Scholarly book

    植物生育促進根圏微生物について解説した。
    担当執筆分:8. 有用微生物3―植物生育促進根圏微生物―
    A5版

    Other Link: https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E5%9C%9F%E5%A3%8C%E5%BE%AE%E7%94%9F%E7%89%A9%E5%AD%A6-%E5%AE%9F%E8%B7%B5%E5%9C%9F%E5%A3%8C%E5%AD%A6%E3%82%B7%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BA-%E8%B1%8A%E7%94%B0-%E5%89%9B%E5%B7%B1/dp/4254435711/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1535429658&sr=8-1&keywords=%E5%9C%9F%E5%A3%8C%E5%BE%AE%E7%94%9F%E7%89%A9%E5%AD%A6

  • 里山の自然とくらし 福島県鮫川村

    入江 彰昭, 上地 由朗, 内田 均, 竹内 将俊, 舘 博, 安藤 達彦, 穂坂 賢, 高橋 悟, 渡邉 文雄, 川上 昭太郎, 栗田 和弥, 桝田 信彌, 伊藤 健, 入江 満美, 横田 健治( Role: Joint author ,  p78-79、2頁)

    東京農業大学出版会  2013.03  ( ISBN:978-4-88694

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    Language:Japanese   Book type:Scholarly book

    村内の田畑の土壌分析を行い、本地域の土壌の特性について解説した。四六判、P.112

  • Sustainable Farming Practices for Environmental Conservation

    Edited by Machito Mihara and Akimi Fujimoto( Role: Joint author ,  抽出不可能)

    Institute of Environment Rehabilitation and Conservation, Japan  2009.04  ( ISBN:4-916174-08-9

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    Language:English   Book type:Scholarly book

Misc 【 display / non-display

  • Strategies for Biological Control of Brown Blotch Disease: Microorganisms Protect Edible Mushrooms from Pathogens via a Range of Modes of Action. Invited Reviewed

    Shun Tomita, Hirosuke Shinohara, Kenji Yokota

    116 - 124   2023.03

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    Authorship:Last author   Language:Japanese   Publishing type:Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (scientific journal)  

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1271/kagakutoseibutsu.61.116

  • Bacillus属細菌を用いた植物病害生物防除における環状リポペプチドの機能 Invited

    横田 健治

    日本農薬学会誌   47 ( 2 )   124 - 125   2022.08

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    Authorship:Lead author   Language:Japanese   Publishing type:Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (scientific journal)  

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1584/jpestics.W22-11

  • きのこを褐変化させる毒素tolaasinを解毒する細菌 Invited Reviewed

    横田健治・富田駿・篠原弘亮

    バイオサイエンスとインダストリー   79 ( 3 )   214 - 215   2021.05

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    Authorship:Lead author   Language:Japanese   Publishing type:Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (scientific journal)  

  • 拮抗性Bacillus属細菌を利用した植物病害の生物防除 機能性物質とその防除メカニズムを中心に

    横田 健治

    土と微生物   66 ( 1 )   27 - 31   2012.04

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    Language:Japanese   Publishing type:Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (international conference proceedings)   Publisher:日本土壌微生物学会  

    拮抗性Bacillus属細菌を利用した植物病害の生物防除について報告した。

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.18946/jssm.66.1_27

Industrial Property Rights 【 display / non-display

  • 抗菌剤、農薬、微生物による植物病害の防除方法、および新規バチルス - サブティリス

    原 富次郎, 高塚 由美子, 杉村 祐哉, 横田 健治

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    Application no:WO2017150556A1  Date applied:2017.02

    Patent/Registration no:WO2017150556A1  Date registered:2017.09  Date issued:2017.09

    Country of applicant:Domestic   Country of acquisition:Domestic

  • 分生胞子増殖因子、分生胞子増殖因子を含む培地及び分生胞子増殖因子の製造方法

    横田 健治

     More details

    Applicant:東京農業大学

    Application no:特願2008-263233(P2008-263233)  Date applied:2008.10

    Announcement no:特開2010-88380(P2010-88380A)  Date announced:2010.04

    Country of applicant:Domestic  

  • ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, PESTICIDE, METHOD FOR PREVENTING PLANT DISEASE CAUSED BY MICROORGANISMS, AND NOVEL Bacillus subtilis

    Tomijiro Hara, Yumiko Takatsuka, Yuya Sugimura, Kenji Yokota

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    Application no:15579831 

Honours, Awards and Prizes 【 display / non-display

  • Best Oral Presenter

    2022.11   ISSAAS-SEAPPRO Joint International Seminar and Congress 2022  

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    Award type:Award from international society, conference, symposium, etc.  Country:Indonesia

Scientific Research Funds Acquisition Results 【 display / non-display

  • 病害土壌診断バイオマーカーの開発に向けたメタゲノム解析

    2016.09 - 2019.08

    科学研究費補助金  基盤研究(C)

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    Authorship:Coinvestigator(s) 

  • 地域資源活用型小規模持続的農業システムのためのアグロエコロジー研究

    2016.04 - 2019.03

    科学研究費補助金  基盤研究(C)

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    Authorship:Coinvestigator(s) 

  • バチルス属菌由来の環状リポペプチドによるシロイヌナズナの病害抵抗性制御機構の解明

    2016.04 - 2019.03

    科学研究費補助金  基盤研究(C)

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    Authorship:Principal investigator 

  • 黄色ブドウ球菌の血球崩壊毒素の三次元構造解析による膜孔形成機構の解明

    2000.04 - 2001.03

    科学研究費補助金  特別研究員推奨費

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    黄色ブドウ球菌が生産する二成分性膜孔形成型毒素タンパク質γヘモリジンの構成分子LukF成分の赤血球細胞認識及び結合領域の解明

Other External Funds 【 display / non-display

  • Bacillus属が分泌生産する新規抗菌性環状リポペプチドの構造解析と抗菌活性評価

    2020.04 - 2021.03

    京都大学エネルギー理工学研究所 

    横田 健治

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    Authorship:Principal investigator  Grant type:Competitive

  • Bacillus属が分泌生産する新規抗菌性環状リポペプチドの構造解析と抗菌活性評価

    2019.04 - 2020.03

    京都大学エネルギー理工学研究所 

    横田 健治

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    Authorship:Principal investigator  Grant type:Competitive

  • インドネシアのマングローブ根圏から分離された各種拮抗性細菌の拮抗作用の解明

    2018.11 - 2019.02

    民間財団等 

    横田 健治

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    Authorship:Principal investigator  Grant type:Competitive

  • Bacillus属菌の抗菌性リポペプチド生産を誘導する大豆由来の生理活性物質に関する研究

    2010.05 - 2011.04

    民間財団等  タカノ農芸化学研究助成財団 若手研究者部門 

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    Authorship:Principal investigator  Grant type:Competitive

Presentations 【 display / non-display

  • Microbacterium foliorum NBRC 103072Tによるtolaasin 解毒機構 -Tolaasin 加水分解酵素は菌体の界面 活性剤処理により可溶化する- International conference

    富田 駿, 梶川揚申, 五十君靜信, 篠原弘亮, 横田健治

    令和2 年度日本植物病理学会大会  2020.03 

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    Event date: 2020.03

    Language:English   Presentation type:Oral presentation (general)  

  • Susceptibility to Tolaasins on Tolaasin-Detoxyfying Microbacterium spp. International conference

    Shun Tomita, Hirosuke Shinohara, Kenji Yokota

    ISSAAS 2019 International Congress & General Meeting 2019  2019.10 

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    Event date: 2019.10

    Language:English   Presentation type:Oral presentation (general)  

  • Comparative Study of Surfactin Homologues on Antibacterial Activity International conference

    Takafumi Yoshida and Kenji Yokota

    ISSAAS 2019 International Congress & General Meeting 2019  2019.10 

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    Event date: 2019.10

    Language:English   Presentation type:Oral presentation (general)  

  • Arthrobacter sp. Isolate Enhance Fusarium Soil-Borne Disease International conference

    Mana Adachi, Ryota Kataoka, Yusuke Yamamoto, Ryoko Kato, Kenji Yokota

    ISSAAS 2019 International Congress & General Meeting 2019  2019.10 

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    Event date: 2019.10

    Language:English   Presentation type:Oral presentation (general)  

  • Analysis of the Inhibitory Effect of Bacterial Growth on Cabbage Leaves in Response to Treatment with Lipopeptides International conference

    Carla Suzuki Altrão, Yusuke Yanai, Hirosuke Shinohara, Kenji Yokota

    ISSAAS 2019 International Congress & General Meeting 2019  2019.10 

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    Event date: 2019.10

    Language:English   Presentation type:Oral presentation (general)  

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