Naoko YOSHINAGA Assistant ProfessorAlumni
  • Period
    1st(Term: from Apr. 2010 to Mar. 2015)
    グローバル型
  • Research Interests
    Chemical Ecology
  • Research Topic
    FACs, the Gut Component of Lepidopteran Caterpillars and Insect Nitrogen Efficiency

As a chemist and entomologist, Naoko has studied the tritrophic interaction, chemically mediated relationships between plants-herbivorous insects-their natural enemies. FACs in caterpillar regurgitants originally known as key chemicals in this ecological system turned out to be important intermediates for caterpillars to archive effective nitrogen assimilation. Based on this finding, her next approach is to develop new techniques for sustainable food production that will help us 1) understand how to control their nitrogen metabolism for the purpose of pest management, and 2) evaluate their maximum ability to produce nutrient proteins with the prospect of its utilization for alternative poultry feeds.