Research

Microbes appeared at least 3 billion-years-ago on Earth. They have acquired a variety of functions and forms during the long history of their evolution, and have spred out over Earth. Their activity have greatly affected on global energy flux and elemental cycling. However, actually, as 99% of the total microbes living in the Earth have not been cultured and characterized, our knowledge of the microbes is extremely limited. The goal of my study is to know more about these microbes (abundance, diversity, activity, function, and role in the system on Earth).

Three of main works are progressing:

Ecophysiology of iron-oxidizing bacteria
Microbial diversity in hot environments
Microbial biogeography on deep seafloor

Ecophysiology of iron-oxidizing bacteria

Left: Fe-rich microbial mat in a park. Right: Stalk-forming Fe-oxidizing bacteria (bar=10 um).

Left： Fe-rich microbial mat in a hydrothermal area (photo by JAMSTEC). Right: Fe-rich mat on board.

Related papers
Masuda, Kato et al. (2024) M&E [link]
Kato et al. (2024) IJSEM [link]
Kato et al. (2022) IJSEM [link]
Kato and Ohkuma (2021) Microbiol Spectr [link]
Kato et al. (2018) Microbiol Resour Announc [link]
Chiu, Kato et al. (2017) Front Microbiol [link]
Field, Kato et al. (2016) Geobiology [link]
Kato et al. (2015) Front Microbiol [link]
Kato et al. (2014) IJSEM [link]
Kato et al. (2013) Appl Environ Microbiol [link]
Kato et al. (2012) Front Microbiol [link]
Kato et al. (2012) Geomicrobiol J [link]
Kato et al. (2009a) Environ Microbiol [link]
Kato et al. (2009b) Environ Microbiol [link]

Microbial diversity in hot environments

Left: A black smoker chimney venting >300ºC hydrothermal fluids (photo by JAMSTEC). Right: Shinkai6500 (JAMSTEC)

Left: A hot spring in Ohwakudani, Hakone. Right: A thermophilic archaeon cultivated from 70ºC hot water (bar=10 um).

Related papers
Kato et al. (2024) J Bacteriol [link]
Kato et al. (2023) Front Microbiol [link]
Kato et al. (2022) IJSEM [link]
Kato et al. (2020) IJSEM [link]
Kato et al. (2020) Microbiol Resour Announc [link]
Kato et al. (2019) ISME J [link]
Kato et al. (2018) Microbes Environ [link]
Kato et al. (2013) Front Microbiol [link]
Kato et al. (2013) Geochemical J [link]
Kato et al. (2011) FEMS Microbiol Lett [link]
Kato et al. (2010) Appl Environ Microbiol [link]
Kato and Yamagishi (2010) Viva Origino [link][PDF]

Microbial biogeography on deep seafloor

Seafloor covered with ferromanganese crusts (photo by JAMSTEC).

Related papers
Usui et al. (2020) Sci. Rep. [link]
Kato et al. (2019) PLOS ONE [link]
Kato et al. (2018) Microbes Environ. [link]
Usui et al. (2017) Ore Geol. Rev. [link]
Nitahara, Kato et al. (2017) PLOS ONE [link]
Kato and Yamagishi (2014). In: Deep Sea: Biodiversity, Human Dimension and Ecological Significance [link]
Nitahara, Kato et al. (2011) FEMS Microbiol Lett [link]
Kato and Yamagishi (2011) In: Changing Diversity in Changing Environment InTech [link]