LAB LOGA page on LabLog, a review site (not the lab's official page)
Microbial Functions and Applications Lab
Machine-translated · View original
A lab that studies how microbes communicate and form communities, and puts them to use.
AboutAbout the lab
Unraveling how microbes communicate and form communities
The Microbial Functions and Applications Lab studies the functions of microbes, interactions between microbes, and biofilms, which are formed by microbes gathering together.
The lab also conducts research on using oil- and fat-metabolizing microbes to produce biosurfactants, which are expected to be used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
It has developed its own microscopy-based observation system and uses it to investigate the functions of biofilms and how they form.
On the lab's website, it is introduced under the name "Nobuhiko Nomura Lab."
Key terms
- Biosurfactants
- Amphiphilic substances produced by microbes, expected to be used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals
- Quorum sensing
- Communication between microbes mediated by signaling compounds
- Biofilm
- An aggregate of microbes enclosed in an extracellular matrix; dental plaque and activated sludge are also considered types of biofilm
NewsLab news
A master's student received an Excellent Poster Award at the 99th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Bacteriology
An undergraduate student and a master's student received the Excellent Oral Presentation Award and the Excellent Poster Presentation Award at the 3rd Japan Phage Young Researchers' Meeting
A master's student received a Research Encouragement Award at the 57th Vibrio Symposium
A master's student received an Excellent Presentation Award at the 108th Kanto Branch Meeting of the Japanese Society for Bacteriology
A master's student and an undergraduate student received Student Excellent Presentation Awards at the Gram-Positive Bacteria Genome and Function Conference
ResearchResearch themes
The lab studies the production of substances using the metabolic functions of microbes, interactions between bacteria, and biofilms. By investigating interactions between bacteria, it aims to establish methods for controlling microbes that make use of those interactions.
*Illustrative imageProducing high-value substances with microbes
Using the metabolic functions of living organisms to convert inexpensive substances into high-value ones is called bioconversion. This research uses oil- and fat-metabolizing microbes to produce biosurfactants, which are expected to be used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
*Illustrative imageInteractions between bacteria
It has become clear that bacteria, although single-celled organisms, exhibit a variety of functions by interacting with one another. The lab focuses on analyzing interactions such as quorum sensing and those mediated by membrane vesicles, and aims to establish methods for controlling microbes.
*Illustrative imageBiofilm functions and formation mechanisms
In real-world environments, many microbes form biofilms, which are aggregates enclosed in an extracellular matrix. The lab analyzes their functions and formation mechanisms with its own microscopy-based observation system, and the results are expected to lead to improved water treatment technologies using activated sludge and to the prevention and treatment of infections caused by pathogenic bacteria.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Microbial Functions and Applications Lab consist of faculty members, collaborators, postdoctoral researchers, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, senior technical specialists, and technicians.As of 2026
- ProfessorNobuhiko Nomura
- Associate ProfessorAndrew S. Utada
- Associate ProfessorMasanori Toyofuku
- Assistant ProfessorNozomu Obana
- Assistant ProfessorToshiki Nagakubo
VoicesStudent voices
Ratings and reviews reflect the experiences of individual current or former students, not the lab's official views. Whether a lab has reviews, or how many, says nothing about the lab itself.
Students who take part in an interview may receive a thank-you gift worth ¥1,000, regardless of what they say.
Student ratings (0 students)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Student voices answer questions like these
- What's great about this lab?
- What did you learn after joining?
- What's the vibe, and what is the professor like?
- Who is this lab for?
- Where do graduates go?
Your experience can help younger students choose their lab. Your name won't be shown.
Write a lab reviewAnonymous · Your draft is saved if you stopRelatedLabs similar to Microbial Functions and Applications Lab
Aquatic Environment Ecological Engineering LabSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, College of Agro-Biological Resource Sciences[Maki Utsumi] Fields: aquatic environmental ecological engin…
Stress Adaptation Microbiology LabSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, College of Agro-Biological Resource Sciences[Naoki Takaya] Specialty: applied microbiology, agricultural…
Bioresource Process Engineering LabSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, College of Agro-Biological Resource Sciences[Zhongfang Lei] Specialty: wastewater and waste treatment an…
Bioprocess Engineering LabSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, College of Agro-Biological Resource Sciences[Nakao Nomura] Specialty: biochemical engineering. Establish…The information on this page is compiled by the LabLog team from the lab's public information and interviews. For corrections or removal requests, please contact LabLog, not the lab.
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: “Compound Microscope Image” Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Producing high-value substances with microbes: “Fed-batch fermentation - hydrolysates 2” Luis Fernando Flores LAB / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Interactions between bacteria: “Bioluminescent bacteria - Flickr - Rob Cruickshank” Rob Cruickshank / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Biofilm functions and formation mechanisms: “Aeration tank activated sludge process STP Bengaluru India” Vraj Acharya, WELL Labs / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Aquatic Environment Ecological Engineering Lab): “Lake water uptake” Ahom04 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Stress Adaptation Microbiology Lab): “Horizontal laboratory microbiology shaker Innova 4330” real name: Matylda Sęk pl.wiki: Cygaretka commons: Cygaretka / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Bioresource Process Engineering Lab): “Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant - digester eggs - Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York” Netherzone / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Bioprocess Engineering Lab): “Penicillin bioreactor” Matt Brown / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
About LabLog
LabLog is a lab review app for students only. Student members at each university interview students in labs and publish what they say. Student voices can only be read by students who sign up with a university email address. Operated by bestiee Inc.
Learn more about LabLog ↗Search engines and AI may reference the basic lab info and rating summaries on this page and the description of LabLog. Student voices are for student members only. Automated collection by programs (scraping, or input to or training of AI) is prohibited under Article 8 of the Terms of Service. If you need data for research or analysis, please contact us.