Breadcrumb navigation
- Ongoing research themes :
We aim to realize a society where anyone can easily use their saliva to measure their physical condition and manage their health.
We are engaged in research and development of a simple salivary test that combines biotechnology and ICT.
Biosensors using aptamers
We are engaged in research and development of sensor elements that take advantage of the characteristics of aptamers.
Measurements can be easily performed by anyone
Biosensors do not require complex analytical procedures or large-scale analyzers and can be used for on-site measurements at any location.
Quantification of day-to-day variability in physical condition
Changes in physical condition can be visualized objectively by using salivary biomarkers to quantify physical wellness.
What are nucleic acid aptamers?
They are single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules that can specifically bind to target molecules.Compared with antibodies that work in a similar way but are produced from living organisms, aptamers are produced through chemical synthesis. Aptamers have the ability to bind with a broad range of target molecules, such as small molecules and lipids, and can be stored at room temperature.
Aptamers are widely used along with antibodies in drug discovery, diagnostic pharmaceuticals, experimental reagents, detection elements, and other biomedical applications.
Artificial nucleic acid aptamers with base modifications have been reported to have enhanced structural diversity of aptamers and hence their affinity for targets.
By using IT to predict the structure of a base sequence, it is possible to optimize aptamer stability and affinity.
Democratization of measurements by biotechnology
We are engaged in research and development of a system that combines biotechnology and ICT to allow anyone to easily run tests.
Healthcare
Measuring stress and other health metrics
We have succeeded in developing an aptamer that combines with salivary amylase*4, 8, cortisol, chromogranin A, secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA)*4 and β-defensin*3, which have been reported to be stress markers.
We have also succeeded in developing an aptamer that combines with C-reactive protein (CRP)*2 and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)*2.
Infectious diseases
Measuring viruses and other infectious agents
We have succeeded in developing an aptamer*1 that binds to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the novel coronavirus, an aptamer that binds to the hemagglutinin (HA) of the influenza virus, and a detection system that uses the aptamers. We are not only conducting research, but also collaborating with experts both in Japan and overseas to produce services that will lead to the social implementation of these technologies.
Food safety
Measuring allergens, food poisoning, and other contamination
Melamine, which was used in the systematic adulteration of food products, is a small molecule compound, considered difficult to detect in conventional food inspections. Through meticulous research, we have developed a simple and rapid detection method using aptamers as sensors*6.
Presentation papers from the last five years
*1: Yamaguchi S, Fujita T, Kato S, Yoshimitsu Y, Ito Y M, Yano R Utility of salivary cortisol profile as a predictive biomarker in nurses' turnover risk: a preliminary study J Physiol Anthropol. 2024; 43: 1. doi: 10.1186/s40101-023-00349-w.*2: Yamaguchi S, Watanabe K, Sugimura N, Shishido I, Konya I, Fujita T, Yoshimitsu Y, Kato S, Ito Y M, Yano R Salivary Biomarker Profiles and Chronic Fatigue among Nurses Working Rotation Shifts: An Exploratory Pilot Study Healthcare (Basel). 2022; 10: 1416. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10081416.
*3: Minagawa H, Sawa H, Fujita T, Kato S, Inaguma A, Hirose M, Orba Y, Sasaki M, Tabata K, Nomura N, Shingai M, Suzuki Y, Horii K. A high-affinity aptamer with base-appended base-modified DNA bound to isolated authentic SARS-CoV-2 strains wild-type and B.1.617.2 (delta variant). BBRC. 2022; 614: 207-212
*4: Minagawa H, Kataoka Y, Fujita H, Kuwahara M, Horii K, Shiratori I, Waga I. Modified DNA Aptamers for C-Reactive Protein and Lactate Dehydrogenase-5 with Sub-Nanomolar Affinities. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020; 21(8): 2683-2698
*5: Minagawa H, Kataoka Y, Fujita H, Kuwahara M, Horii K, Shiratori I, Waga I. A high affinity modified DNA aptamer containing base-appended bases for human β-defensin. Anal Biochem. 2020; 594: 113627-31.
*6: Minagawa H, Shimizu A, Kataoka Y, Kuwahara M, Kato S, Horii K, Shiratori I, Waga I. Fluorescence Polarization-Based Rapid Detection System for Salivary Biomarkers Using Modified DNA Aptamers Containing Base-Appended Bases. Anal Chem. 2020; 92(2): 1780-87.
