Japan’s Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) and Chuo University have recently launched a joint research initiative to discover novel natural products from marine organisms.
The project aims to identify previously unknown substances that may have beneficial applications for humanity, including potential new medicinal resources, from marine organisms attached to ship hulls and other surfaces, and to identify the effects of those substances.
Building on the outcomes of the initial research, Chuo University and NYK have formalised a five-year joint research agreement. Chuo University’s Iwasaki Laboratory will collect marine organisms, explore unknown natural substances, and evaluate their usefulness, while NYK will primarily facilitate the collection of these marine organisms.
“The selection of exploration sources is extremely important for discovering useful unknown substances. We aim to discover new substances that will serve as the foundation for our healthy and prosperous lives from these rare biological resources,” said Iwasaki Arihiro, a Chuo University associate professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
The two have been conducting a pilot project since 2023, focused on collecting and analysing marine organisms attached to ship hulls and similar surfaces. This endeavour led to the discovery of an unknown natural substance.
Preliminary results revealed that the substance inhibits the growth of the pathogen responsible for African sleeping sickness. The disease is found in sub-Saharan Africa, primarily transmitted by tsetse flies. It is characterised by sleep cycle disorders, and severe cases can be fatal.
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