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Microbial Control of Insect Pests Lab
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The lab studies entomopathogenic microorganisms that act as natural enemies of insect pests.
AboutAbout the lab
Putting insect pathogens to work in pest control
The Microbial Control of Insect Pests Lab conducts both basic and applied research on entomopathogenic microorganisms that act as natural enemies of pest insects.
Its work includes isolating pathogenic microorganisms from diseased insects to identify them, and selecting strains that show high control effects against pest insects.
The lab also studies ways to prevent infectious diseases in insects reared in large numbers, such as silkworms and honeybees, as well as the mechanisms by which insects protect themselves from pathogenic microorganisms.
Graduate students can enter or advance to the lab through the Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, and undergraduates in the Agronomy Field of the Bioresource Production Science Course in the School of Agriculture can also conduct graduation research here under certain conditions.
Key terms
- Entomopathogenic microorganisms
- Microorganisms that infect insects and cause disease. They are used as natural enemies in pest control.
- Molecular phylogenetic analysis
- A method of examining the evolutionary relationships among organisms based on DNA information. It is used to identify species.
- Strain
- An individual line within a species that is cultured and preserved. Strains differ in traits such as pathogenicity.
- Host defense mechanism
- The mechanisms by which living organisms protect their bodies from the invasion and growth of pathogenic microorganisms.
ResearchResearch themes
This lab conducts both basic and applied research on entomopathogenic microorganisms that act as natural enemies of pest insects. Its research ranges from searching for and identifying pathogenic microorganisms, to selecting strains usable for pest control, preventing infectious diseases in mass-reared insects, and studying insect defense mechanisms.
*Illustrative imageSearching for and identifying entomopathogenic microorganisms
The lab isolates pathogenic microorganisms from diseased insects found in natural or rearing environments, and determines their species and genus names using methods such as molecular phylogenetic analysis based on DNA information. For some species, the entire life cycle also needs to be investigated.
*Illustrative imageSelecting strains with high control effects
From among many entomopathogenic microorganisms, the lab selects strains that show high control effects against a particular pest insect. It considers not only pathogenicity but also the ability to establish in the pest's habitat, and conducts research on applying differences among strains to pest control.
*Illustrative imagePreventing infectious diseases in mass-reared insects
Silkworms, honeybees, and beneficial insects are reared in large numbers for industrial use, and infectious diseases sometimes occur under rearing conditions. The lab identifies the causative pathogenic microorganisms and clarifies their routes of entry, the conditions under which disease develops, and the conditions for sterilization, aiming to establish management methods that make infectious diseases less likely to occur.
*Illustrative imageInsect defense against pathogenic microorganisms
Another approach is to use insects that are genetically resistant to infectious diseases. Silkworm moths have strains that differ in their resistance to pathogenic microorganisms, and highly resistant strains are thought to be breedable through crossing, so the lab studies the host defense mechanisms of silkworm moths.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Microbial Control of Insect Pests Lab consist of faculty, doctoral and master's students, and administrative staff.As of 2026
- ProfessorChisa Aoki
- Assistant ProfessorOmi Nishi
- Project Assistant ProfessorNaoya Wasano
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Beetle Beauveria cf 2026 Südpfalz” InsektenDoku / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Searching for and identifying entomopathogenic microorganisms: “Echoes of the Inevitable - The Story Behind the Insect-Fungus System (Dorsal view)” Lautaro Preisegger, Daysi Espín Sánchez, Carla Huarte-Bonnet / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Selecting strains with high control effects: “Biological pest control ( )” Ton Rulkens from Mozambique / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Preventing infectious diseases in mass-reared insects: “Memberi Makan Nyamuk Berwolbachia” Giri Wijayanto / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Insect defense against pathogenic microorganisms: “Papilio Machaon caterpillar” hamon jp / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Insect Natural Enemies Lab): “Ladybug eating aphids. ( )” DAVID S. FERRY III from PLANT CITY,FL., U.S.A. / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Biological Protection and Management Lab): “APHIS-Moore Air Base in Texas-Plant Protection and Quarantine Science and Technology Insect Management and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (20230621-CDP-APHIS-0277)” USDAgov / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Insect Food Science Lab): “Cricket Shelter Modular Edible Insect Farm IMG” Mary Mark Ockerbloom / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Insect DX Lab): “Aid to the identification of insects (Plate ) Percosoma sculcipenne (cropped)” Waterhouse, Charles Owen / Public domain (cropped)
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