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Microbiology Lab
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This microbiology lab explores communication between bacteria and membrane vesicles.
AboutAbout the lab
Exploring bacterial societies through how bacteria interact
The Toyofuku Lab studies interactions between bacteria and membrane vesicles (MVs).
Bacteria were long thought to simply divide independently of one another, but they are now known to interact in a surprising variety of ways.
Using model bacteria ranging from pathogens to bacteria used in environmental remediation, the lab investigates bacterial communication and MVs.
By exploring how the abilities of individual bacteria are coordinated across the whole population, the lab aims to understand bacterial societies.
Key terms
- Membrane vesicle
- A small membrane-bound sac that bacteria release outside the cell. Abbreviated as MV
- Biofilm
- A community that bacteria form in nature. In a community, properties emerge that individual bacteria do not show
- Cell-to-cell signaling
- The exchange of information between bacteria through small-molecule compounds (signals)
NewsLab news
A student received the Excellent Oral Presentation Award and the Excellent Poster Presentation Award at the 3rd Young Phage Researchers Meeting of Japan
A doctoral student's paper on the recovery of denitrification capacity under growth limitation was accepted
A master's student received a Research Encouragement Award at the 57th Vibrio Symposium
A doctoral student received the Best Poster Presentation Award at ASME2025
A doctoral student's paper on the induction of MV formation was accepted
ResearchResearch themes
Using a range of model bacteria, from pathogens to bacteria used in environmental remediation, the lab studies bacterial communication and membrane vesicles (MVs). It aims to understand bacterial societies by exploring how the abilities of individual bacteria are coordinated across the whole population.
*Illustrative imageFormation and Roles of Membrane Vesicles
Most bacteria release membrane vesicles (MVs) outside the cell. The lab studies how they form, what they do, and how they are delivered. It works with a variety of bacteria, including opportunistic pathogens, soil bacteria, and bacteria used in environmental remediation.
*Illustrative imageInteractions Between Bacteria
Bacteria interact with one another through small-molecule compounds (signals) and physical contact. Centering on cell-to-cell signaling, the lab broadly studies many forms of interaction.
*Illustrative imageBiofilms and Community Properties
In nature, bacteria adapt to their environment by forming communities called biofilms. The lab studies how the properties and gene expression of individual bacteria relate to the properties of the community as a whole.
MembersFaculty
The Toyofuku Lab's members are faculty, researchers, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- Associate ProfessorMasanori Toyofuku
- Assistant ProfessorToshiki Nagakubo
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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: “Microscope view of bacteria colonies” Korinna / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Formation and Roles of Membrane Vesicles: “Pseudomonas” Photo Credit: Janice Haney Carr Content Providers(s): CDC/ Janice Haney Carr / Public domain (cropped)
- Interactions Between Bacteria: “Bacterial Quorum Sensing” Caroline Dahl / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Biofilms and Community Properties: “Polymicrobic biofilm epifluorescence” Ricardo Murga and Rodney Donlan / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Energy Biology Lab): “Mixed bacterial biofilm of staphylococci and bacilli 2” SandraG89 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Structural Biology Lab): “Using X-ray diffractometer to solve the 3D structure of membrane proteins of the flagellar system ( )” OIST from Onna Village, Japan / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Plant Molecular Physiology Lab): “ISS-56 Arabidopsis plants inside the Advanced Plant Habitat (1)” NASA / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Photosynthetic Metabolism Regulation Lab): “Red Algae Haematococcus pluvialis 1000X” Rendodge / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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