Against the backdrop of the upcoming establishment of the International collaborative research lab (ICRL) under Ehime University and Faculty of Medicine Universitas Padjadjaran in Bandung, Indonesia, MECOH is glad to welcome back Dr. Lia Faridah, Dr. Savira Ekawardhani, and Dr. Nisa Fauziah. True to the agreement made back in December 2022, both universities had initiated  the JSPS Core-to-Core International Workshop on Mosquito-borne Disease Control from an Ecological Approach" which was held here at the Molecular Ecology and Health Laboratory (MEcoH Lab) between March 29 to April 8 2023. 

As a continued sign of deepening partnership between foreign and local scientists, this workshop succeeded in its purpose to consolidate future collaborative projects by advancing viable ideas in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases across tropical and subtropical regions.

Over the course of two weeks, multiple seminars covering useful methodologies were shared among parties. 

​Thoughtful discussions led by subject matter experts had closed gaps in knowledge. Some critical discussions made include drug resistance, virology, cell culture and so on.

Some hands-on lab demonstrations were done too. Covering techniques on mosquito rearing, mosquito DNA extraction techniques, cell culture, and third-generation DNA/RNAseq.

​As the workshop draws to a close, all parties involved express their immense gratitude for the opportunity created by this collaborative event.

​Although the time shared together may be short, it is all the more reason to cherish it. Let us appreciate these chance encounters, just as we appreciate the fleeting beauty of a Sakura cherry blossom. 

​The Annual International Research Colloquium between Ehime University (EU) and De La Salle University (DLSU) with the theme “Usable Science Resulting in Impact” was held last 07 March 2023 at the Media Hall, Ehime University. It was organized by the EU-DLSU International Collaborative Research Laboratory (ICRL) and sponsored by the Leading Academia in Marine and Environment Pollution Research (LaMer). The symposium aims to convene professors, researchers and PhD students of the two universities.

​To formally start the program, Prof. Kozo Watanabe gave an opening remarks. He talked about how the collaboration between EU and DLSU started, and how he wants it to continue and prosper in the coming years.
 

​The symposium had two parts: Keynote and Poster Sessions. Prof. Jonathan Dungca, the Vice President of DLSU Laguna Campus and Dean of the DLSU School for Innovation and Sustainability, introduced the campuses, research centers and facilities of DLSU, and emphasized the importance of the EU-DLSU ICRL at the Laguna Campus in his Keynote Speech. On the other hand, Dr. Ma. Luisa Enriquez, a Professorial Lecturer at DLSU and Associate Professor at EU, discussed cytogenomics of insects for evolutionary trends and agricultural applications.
 

​Fifteen scientific posters on medical and health, agriculture, and biodiversity were presented during the symposium. Eight scientific posters were from EU delegates and seven from DLSU. The poster session served as a good avenue for sharing ideas and opened up new possible collaborations between EU and DLSU. Marynold Purificacion (EU-DLSU ICRL), Kenneth Bongulto (EU) and Kris Lord Santos (DLSU) won the Best Poster awards.
 
 

Prof. Divina Amalin, Director of the Center for Natural Science and Environmental Research at DLSU, ended the program by thanking all the participants and sponsors. To capped off that very productive day,  DLSU guests and some MECoH Lab members had a dinner party at Okaido. 

Faculty and research staff of the De La Salle University Laguna Campus visited the Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University with the goal of strengthening their collaboration. DLSU guests were warmly welcomed at Prof. Kozo Watanabe’s residence on their first night in Matsuyama, Ehime. 

The next day, they visited the Molecular Ecology and Health Laboratory (MEcoH Lab) and had a tour of its facilities. Kenneth Bongulto (Research student), Ngure Kagia (Research student) and Dr. Anwar Hossain (JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow) showed them around the Molecular Laboratory and shared their on-going projects on antimicrobial resistance. The MEcoH Lab’s Insectary was shown by Assoc. Prof. Yasutsugu Suzuki and Irish Coleen Asin (Research student). Jerica Reyes (PhD student) and Dan Joseph Logronio (Research student) demonstrated cell culture and environmental DNA (eDNA) extraction techniques, respectively. 

​DLSU delegates also had a meeting with the four (4) CMES full professors, wherein they discussed how each research center can contribute mutually. Prof. Hisato Iwata and Prof. Tatsuya Kunisue (Division of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology) and Prof. Xinyu Guo (Division of Environmental Dynamics) also gave short tours on their facilities after the collaboration meeting. 

Dr. Anwar Hossain is working as Professor of the Department of Fisheries (Aquaculture Branch), Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He did his PhD in the field of Environmental Risk Management from Yokohama National University, Japan. His research emphasis on antibiotics and AMR risk assessment and management in aquaculture as well as aquatic environment. 
He is an enthusiastic researcher, working with national and international scientists from different countries like Japan, USA, Australia, and Canada etc. 
He has more than 50 research articles in his credit, published in national and international reputed journals (Exposure and Health, Chemosphere, Environmental Research, Global Food Security, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, AMB Express, Biological Trace Element Research, Chemistry and Ecology, Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, etc.).

Currently he is working as JSPS postdoctoral fellow under Prof. Kozo Watanabe at MECOH Lab, Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Japan.
His key research interest is the pollution of emerging pollutants in Natural and Aquaculture Environment particularly Antibiotics and AMR contamination. 

The 3rd Symposium of the JSPS Core-to-Core program was conducted at Swiss-Bel Resort, Bali, Indonesia last December 17, 2022. The symposium was organized by The University of Tokyo (IFI), Yamagata University, Ehime University, and Udayana University. The goal of the symposium was to discuss how climate change impacts key areas i.e. health, infectious disease prevention, nutrition, food security, and sustainability. 

Prof. Kensuke Fukushi (The University of Tokyo, IFI) and Prof. lr. Linawati (Udayana University) delivered the welcome remarks followed by four main sessions: (1) climate change impact moderated by Prof. Kensuke Fukushi, (2) environment moderated by Prof. Toru Watanabe, (3) health, nutrition, and food moderated by Prof. Kozo Watanabe, and (4) early career and student: climate, environment & health, nutrition & food moderated by Tri Atmaja (Ph.D. student at the University of Tokyo). 

The first three sessions of the symposium tackled the global issues concerning food production, food security, water quality and access, agriculture, mosquito vectors, and mosquito-borne diseases. These sessions highlighted the need to accelerate efforts that can help minimize the risks and threats of long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Both mitigation and adaptation should be considered when developing new initiatives to resolve these issues. 

The final session focused on early career scientists and students who were given the opportunity to share their researches. One research aimed to use a remote sensing analysis for the assessment of coastal flood loss and damage linked to climate change whereas other researches were geared towards strengthening food system resilience, sustainable food consumption, and disease prevention. Atikah Fitria Muharommah and Jerica Reyes, Ph.D. students from MECOH lab, presented their works on the population genetic structure of Aedes aegypti as well as the use of Wolbachia and CRISPR-Cas 9 tool for understanding Dengue infection within the vector host. 

The symposium served as an avenue for the scientific discussion of problems caused by climate change. Also, It was a way to establish collaboration between attending institutions and mobilize solutions for the attainment of a climate neutral environment. 

Dr. Kozo Watanabe and Jerica Reyes (Ph.D. student) visited the Universitas Padjadjaran in Bandung Indonesia to discuss their long-standing collaboration. For the past years, the MECOH lab has conducted projects focusing on arthropod-borne diseases together with Dr. Lia Faridah, Dr. Savira Ekawardhani, and Dr. Nisa Fauziah. They discussed future research collaboration in the meeting and the prospect of establishing a satellite laboratory under Ehime University at the Universitas Padjadjaran. 

Dr. Ruswana Anwar, Vice Dean for Academic, Student Affair, and Research in the Universitas Padjadjaran attended the meeting to exchange ideas regarding the satellite laboratory. One of the main goals of the satellite laboratory is to strengthen the international collaborative research between Ehime University and Universitas Padjadjaran. Both universities intend to collaborate on researches involving Dengue, Malaria, and Anti-microbial Resistance (AMR). The two universities plan to merge their research goals to resolve global issues on both health and the environment. 

The meeting also included a tour of the research facilities in the Universitas Padjadjaran. Their facilities include a cell culture room, cytogenetics laboratory, immunology laboratory, next-generation sequencing, and a MoVi Labtainer which is a recent addition to handle COVID-19 samples. 

To conclude the day, everyone enjoyed some of the local Indonesian food! 

​Dr. Shinji Takahashi from Tohoku University, together with the Molecular Ecology and Health Laboratory members Mr. Arthien Pelingen (Researcher), Mr. Karim Clivaz (M2), and Mr. Tsubasa Moriya (B4), collected environmental DNA (eDNA) and macroinvertebrates from Tenryu River, Shizuoka Prefecture on November 9-11, 2022.

​This recently concluded field work also serves as a follow-up of the August collection trip this year (Read here: collaborative-fieldwork-of-three-universities-in-kizu-and-tenryu-rivers.html). Accordingly, we focused on (1) identifying Ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis) spawning sites and on (2) observing macroinvertebrate distribution in relation to the riverine spatial habitat diversity. 

​On this three-day activity, we have successfully confirmed spawning of Ayu this season and positively identified different habitat types as we recorded various environmental parameters such as water temperature, pH, turbidity, etc. to be correlated in several macroinvertebrate studies.

Ehime University-Center for Marine Environmental Studies (EU-CMES) represented by the head of the Molecular Ecology and Health (MEcoH) Laboratory, Dr. Kozo Watanabe and JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Khristina Judan Cruz visited the Central Luzon State University, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines last October 12-13, 2022 for initial talks on the establishment of an EU satellite office in CLSU as well as the possibility of a cross-appointment of CLSU faculty members to EU. Dr. Watanabe and Dr. Judan Cruz discussed future EU-CLSU activities with CLSU President Dr. Edgar A. Orden, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Renato G. Reyes, Dean of the College of Science Dr. Evaristo A. Abella, Dean of the College of Fisheries Dr. Ravelina R. Velasco and Director for Freshwater Aquaculture Center-CLSU Dr. Karl Marx A. Quiazon. A Memorandum of Understanding between the two universities was signed last January 22, 2022 to establish and strengthen International Collaboration for academic and research activities.
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​​Dr. Watanabe also visited several research projects and facilities in CLSU such as the CLSU Nanotechnology Facility and the Freshwater Aquaculture Center. The visit coincided with the CLSU Research Innovation and Development (RIDe) Festival that highlighted quality outputs of the university’s research and development  projects.

​Current research collaboration between MEcoH and CLSU includes the genome-wide scan of genetically-improved tilapia particularly the FaST strain developed by CLSU, and integrating nanotechnology with bioactive compounds for anti-quorum sensing and anticancer evaluations.

​Dr. Kozo Watanabe, head of the Molecular Ecology and Health (MEcoH) Laboratory, Ehime University (EU), together with Dr. Yasutsugu Suzuki (Project Associate Professor) and Ms. Irish Coleen Asin (PhD candidate) from the same laboratory visited the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB), University of the Philippines Diliman (UP Diliman), Quezon City, Philippines last October 10, 2022. 

​The representatives from Ehime University as well as Dr. Thaddeus Carvajal, Associate Professor at De La Salle University, met with Dr. Ma. Anita Bautista, Professor and Principal Investigator of the Functional Genomics Laboratory (FGL) of NIMBB-UP Diliman, for a talk on possible future collaboration between Ehime University and NIMBB. Also present in the meeting were Ms. Adria Lao (PhD candidate), Ms. Coleen Pangilinan (MSc candidate), and Mr. Aldwin Adiong (BSc candidate) of FGL-NIMBB who have presented their past and current research works on mosquito viral metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. Overall, this kick-off meeting provided an opportunity to build good rapport from both sides, and to set out and discuss various areas for collaborative work on mosquito research projects.

​Dr. Watanabe, Dr. Suzuki, and Ms. Asin have also been a given a tour of the facilities of NIMBB as well as the University of the Philippines System – Philippine Genome Center during this fruitful visit.

Representatives from Ehime University (EU) and De La Salle University (DLSU) celebrated the official opening of the EU-DLSU International Collaborative Research Laboratory (ICRL) located at the George S.K. Ty Advanced Instrumentation Bldg, DLSU Laguna Campus on Tuesday morning, 11 October 2022. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by Dr. Kozo Watanabe, Professor of Molecular Ecology and Health (MEcoH) Laboratory at the Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), EU, and Dr. Jonathan Dungca, Vice President for Laguna Campus and Dean of the College. Also present were Dr. Divina Amalin, Director of the Center for Natural Sciences and Environmental Research (CENSER), Drs. Ma. Luisa Enriquez, Mary Jane Flores, Thaddeus Carvajal, faculty members at the Department of Biology, DLSU, and members of the Biological Control Research Unit, CENSER. Also present are Dr. Yasutsugu Suzuki, Associate Professor of EU-CMES, and Ms. Irish Coleen Asin, PhD candidate from UE-CMES.

​The ceremony was followed by a tour of the facilities at the ICRL. The laboratory is equipped with advanced research infrastructure in line with its vision to “be the leading research unit dedicated to advancing, applying and facilitating high standards of research practice for Philippine and Japanese students, faculty and staff of both universities.” Under the mentorship of recognized scientists from EU and DLSU, the ICRL will provide a hub in conducting high-quality collaborative research between Filipino and Japanese students, faculty, and staff.

​A seminar session was also conducted wherein Dr. Kozo Watanabe first discussed the functions and roles of the EU-DLSU ICRL. Dr. Thaddeus Carvajal and Dr. Yasutsugu Suzuki also delivered their talks on “The Importance of Studying Vector Biology & Ecology of Mosquito-borne Diseases for Designing Appropriate Vector Control Strategies” and “Understanding Mosquito-virus Interactions Toward Vector Control”, respectively. The seminar was livestreamed and was attended by participants online.

​The ICRL is a product of a long standing cooperation between the two universities that started in 2016. In October 21, 2021, the Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Dr. Nishina Hiroshige, President of EU, and Br. Bernard Oca, President of DLSU, to start the establishment of ICRL (then known as the Ehime University Satellite Office Philippines). Currently, the ICRL implements several privately and publicly funded research projects, and houses the Center for Vector of Diseases of Public Health Importance in the Philippines for Region IV, a niche center under the DOST Science for Change Program.

​On 17th - 22nd September 2022, Professor Kozo Watanabe visited two universities in Bangladesh -Dhaka University, at Dhaka city and Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University (MBSTU), at Tangail city. Professor Watanabe attended in several meetings and seminars organized by both universities and discussed about the possible way of future collaborations. 

Mohamad Mosleh Uddin, a PhD student of MECoH lab went Bangladesh (22nd August -28th September, 2022) for his sampling purpose. He collected mosquito samples from the Dhaka City area.

Along these large rivers, different habitat types were identified, inspected, and compared with one another. Despite the scorching heat, the fieldwork was successful as samples for several projects were collected including macroinvertebrates and eDNA.

​At the start of August 2022, Art from the Philippines joined the MEcoH Lab as the newest PhD student. Emerging from a rigorous taxonomic training of Philippine macroinvertebrates during his Master’s in the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), Art will explore combined ecological and genomic approaches in studying the stream macroinvertebrates i.e. how the abiotic factors and genetic similarities and/or differences play into their roles in the river dynamics. With these in sight, he envisions to contribute into an interdisciplinary understanding of addressing the changes in current environmental patterns using macroinvertebrates as models.

Some poorly known species collected during the field trip.

The AMR team (Prof. Kozo Watanabe, Prof. Satoru Suzuki, Yuichiro Shimada, Ryota Ueda, Ngure Kagia, and Kenneth Bongulto) went for another sample collection from wastewater treatment plants, river, and coastal area in Matsuyama, Ehime. The sample collection aimed to collect water samples and isolate environmental bacteria and test for antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs).

Two different wastewater treatment plants were visited for the sampling. Water samples were collected from the wastewater influent and effluent.  Environmental parameters were gathered per sampling site. ​

Water samples were also collected from the coastal area and river where the wastewater effluent flows out.  

The AMR team (Prof. Kozo Watanabe, Yuichiro Shimada, Ryota Ueda, Ngure Kagia, and Kenneth Bongulto) collected wastewater samples from a pig farm  last July 14, 2022. The aim of the sample collection is to isolate environmental bacteria and test for antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs).

Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling was performed again in Satsunai river, Hokkaido, Japan last July 6 to 10. Water samples for eDNA detection were collected from river and hyporheic zone. Macroinvertebrates both from benthic and hyporheic zones were also collected for morphological identification and DNA metabarcoding analysis.

Professor Negishi from Hokkaido University performs water sampling from the hyporheic zone of Satsunai river for eDNA detection of macroinvertebrates.

Water sample collected from the hyporheic zone were aseptically transferred to a sterile container  for transport.

Dan a Research student from MECOH lab performs water collection from the Satsunai river for eDNA detection.

Dan together with the graduate students from Hokkaido University.

Dr. Levente-Péter Kolcsár (JSPS postdoctoral fellow) went on a field collection trip in the Japanese Alps, between 12-18 June. The aim of the trip was to collect crane flies (Diptera: Tipuloidea) along mountain rivers and streams for morphological and molecular studies. The main targeted group was a poorly known hairy-eyed crane fly genus (Tricyphona), in which several new species are suspected.

​Dr. Daichi Kato from Echigo-Matsunoyama Museum of Natural Science, Matsunoyama, Niigata Pref. also joined the field collection between 14-16 June. 

During the trip over 1200 specimens belonging to 150-160 species were collected.

Mr. Dan Joseph Logronio, a research student from the MECOH Lab performed eDNA collection in Satsunai river, Hokkaido, Japan last June 19 to assess macroinvertebrate communities both in benthic and hyporheic zones. DNA metabarcoding will be used for the identification of taxa present in the sample. This is a collaborative project with the Laboratory of Watershed Conservation and Management, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University headed by Dr. Junjiro Negishi. 

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​Dr. Levente-Péter Kolcsár (JSPS postdoctoral fellow) went on a field collection trip to Okinawa Island, Japan between 24-31 May, 2022. The aim of the trip was to collect crane flies (Diptera: Tipuloidea) along different aquatic and wet habitats. The crane fly fauna of the island is poorly investigated, and many species new to science or new to Japan are suspected from Okinawa and surrounding areas.

During the trip around 550-600 specimens belonging to 52 species were collected, from which 14 suspected to be new to science.