Presenter Profile
Masaru Bamba
Assistant Professor
Tohoku University, Graduate School of Life Sciences
Masaru Bamba is an Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Japan. He earned his Ph.D. in March 2020, following which he joined Tohoku University as a postdoctoral researcher in April 2020. In January 2022, they transitioned to the position of Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of Life Sciences, funded by the GPDS.
His research focuses on the evolution of symbiotic relationships between plants and microbes, underpinned by a basis in genomics, population genetics, and ecology. Through his interdisciplinary expertise, he seeks to decipher symbiosis's complexities, aiming to shed light on the dynamics of biodiversity in ecological systems.
TALK TITLE
Evolutionary trajectory of the Legume-Rhizobia symbiosis
KEYWORDS
Genomics, Bioinformatics, Symbiosis, Plant
ABSTRACT
Despite the ubiquity and diversity of symbiotic relationships in ecosystems being well-documented, the processes driving their divergence remain enigmatic. The aim of my research is to elucidate the early stages of symbiotic diversification, focusing on the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia, especially Lotus japonicus and Mesorhizobium, as a model system. We have observed their symbiosis in the natural fields, investigated comprehensive symbiotic differentiation, and elucidated their genomic variation. We have adopted an integrated approach to assess the association between intraspecific genetic variation in plants and the diversification of their symbiotic relationships, helping us identify the specific genetic differences that contribute to symbiotic differentiation. Our results have provided a compelling genetic basis that supports establishing beneficial relationships with certain rhizobium bacteria. We have managed to clarify the genetic process through which plants establish symbiotic relationships with specific rhizobia, contributing to a basic understanding of symbiotic diversification.
In this presentation, I will familiarize attendees with approaches from genomics and population genetics, one area in bioinformatics, to bridge the gap between informatics and biology.