Metagenomics using porous arrowhead devices; from environmental assessment to screening

• Project/Area Number: 23658067
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Applied microbiology
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: NAKAJIMA Toshiaki 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 准教授 (80241777)
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2012
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2012)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2011: ¥2,470,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥570,000)
• Keywords: 環境微生物 / メタゲノム / 微生物スクリーニング

Research Abstract

As a tool of environmental metagenomics, an arrowhead device made of porous material was suggested. Impacts against microbial flora of various chemical compounds were investigated by using this device. In addition, accumulation of microorganisms with specific function is tried by infiltrating a screening object into this device. As a result, I succeeded to produce specific microbial flora to the outskirts of this device by gradually releasing a target material from it. Furthermore, around 5cm was enough for the distance of the arrowhead to get good result. Thus this method is space-saving. This method must be a cheap, and simple metagenome technology in future.