Main Research Interests

Microbial Ecology and Physiology in the digestive tract in relation to digestion

Focusing on
  • Methanogenesis, sulfate reduction and reductive acetogenesis in the rumen and lower gut of mammals
  • Fiber digesting system of rumen anaerobic microbes such as bacteria, ciliate protozoa, chytridiomycete fungi
  • Effect of probiotics and prebiotics on the fermentation and digesta kinetics in the large bowel

  • We are interested in the microbial ecology in the gastrointestinal tract. The intestinal microflora affect host physiology such as the movement of gut to expel the digesta, the proliferation of epithelial cells, the absorption of nutrients, the interaction between epithelial cells and adherent bacteria, etc. I would like to stress that rat would not be a suitable model for the human large intestine due to the artificially simplified intestinal flora. We feel pigs can be an alternative for rats in such studies.


    List of recent publications


    Microbial community in the gut ecosystems. Probiotic and prebiotic, their mode of action.



  • K. Ushida and T. Sakata (1998) Effect of pH on Oligosaccharides fermentation by porcine cecal digesta Animal Science and Technology 69(2) : p.20-p.27.

  • Sakata T, Kojima T, Fujieda M, Miyakozawa M, Takahashi M, Ushida K (1999) Probiotic preparations dose-dependently increase net production rates of organic acids and decrease that of ammonia by pig cecal bacteria in batch culture. Dis Dig Sci 44, 1485-1493.

  • T. Tsukahara and K. Ushida (2000) Succinate accumulation in pig large intestine during the antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD) and isolation of succinate producing bacteria. Reproduction Nutrition Development 40 (2) 213.

  • T.Tsukahara, Y.Azuma, K.Takeuchi,and K.Ushida (2000)The effect of combinative-dispensation of probiotic and digestive enzyme for the digestion and large-bowel fermentation in weaning piglets. Chonai Saikingaku Zasshi 14(1) 1-9.

  • T. Tsukahara and K. Ushida (2000) Effects of animal or plant protein diets on cecal fermentation in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), rats (Rattus norvegicus) and chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus) Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A 127, 139-146

  • T.Arakawa, Y.Ishikawa, and K.Ushida (2000) Volatile Sulfur Production by Pig Cecal Bacteria in Batch Culture and Screening Inhibitors of Sulfate Reducing Bacteria. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, 46, 159-164

  • Tsukahara T, Azuma Y. and Ushida K. (2001) The effect of a mixture of live lactic acid bacteria onﾊﾊ intestinal gas production of pig.　Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease 13, 105-110. 　

  • Ohashi Y, Inoue R, Tanaka K, Matsuki T, Umesaki Y. and Ushida K. (2001) Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota- fermented milk stimulates indigenous Lactobacilli in the pig intestine. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology　47 (2), 172-176

  • Ishikawa Y, Maekawa M., Arakawa, T. and Ushida K. (2001) Volatile sulfur production in the large intestine as affected by plant extracts in pig in vitro model BIOSCIENCE and MICROFLORA 20 (2): 49-52.

  • Ushida K., Oshima N, Tanimura A., Miyazaki K., Kojima Y., and Takakuwa S. (2001) Evaluation of methanethiol and hydrogen sulfide production by standard strains of Intestinal bacteria and Isolates from pig feces. BIOSCIENCE and MICROFLORA 20 (2): 53-57.

  • Tsukahara, T and Ushida K. (2001) Organic acid profiles in feces of pigs either with pathogenic or non-pathogenic diarrhea. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 63　(12) 1351-1354.

  • Ohashi Y., Inoue, Y., Tanaka K., Umesaki Y. and Ushida K. (2001) Strain gauge force transducer, its application in pig model to evaluate effect of probiotic on colonic motility. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology 47(5):351-356.　

  • Ushida,K., Maekawa, M. and Arakawa, T. (2002) Influence of Dietary Supplementation of Herb Extracts on Volatile Sulfur Production in Pig Large Intestine. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology 48(1):18-23.

  • Tsukahara T, Koyama, K. and Ushida, K. (2002) Stimulation of butyrate production by gluconic acid in pig cecal digestaﾊ and identification of butyrate producing bacteriaﾊ Journal of Nutrition 132, 2229-2234.

  • Tsukahara, T and Ushida, K. (2002) Succinate accumulation in pig large intestine during antibiotic-associated diarrhea and the constitution of succinate-producing flora. Journal of General and Applied Microbiology 48, 143-154.

  • Tsukahara, T.,Iwasaki, Y., Nakayama, K. and Ushida K.(2002) An improved technique for the histological evaluation of the mucus-secreting status in rat cecum. Journal Nutritional Science and Vitaminology 48(4)311-314.

  • Ushida, K., Hashizume, K., Tsukahara, T., Yamada, K., and Koyama, K.(2002) Megasphaera elsdenii JCM1772T regulates hyper lactate production in the rat large intestine. Reproduction, Nutrition Development 42 (Suppl.1): S56-57.

  • Inoue, R. and Ushida, K.(2002) Factors affecting intestinal flora construction in infant rat. Reproduction, Nutrition Development 42(Suppl.1):S19.

  • Ohashi, Y., Inoue, R. and Ushida, K.(2002) Transition of probiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota, in gastrointestine of pig. Reproduction, Nutrition Development 42 (Suppl.1): S21-22.

  • Tsukahara T, Iwasaki Y, Nakayama K,and Ushida, K. (2003) Microscopic structure of the hindgut mucosa in the piglets during the antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 65 in press.
    Methanogenesis and other hydrogenotrophic system in the gut

  • K.Ushida et al.(1995)Methanogenesis and Sulfate reduction in digestive tract of livestock.　Proceedings for the Japanese Society of Animal Nutrition and Physiolosy 39(1) 19-28.

  • K.Ushida et al.(1995) Sulphate reduction and methanogenesis in the ovine rumen and porcine caecum: A comparison of two microbial ecosystems. Deutsche Tierarzliche Wochenscrift 102 (5): p.154- p.156

  • K. Ushida and J.P.Jouany (1996) Methane production from ciliated rumen protozoa and its effect on protozoal activity. Letters in Applied Microbiology 23(2):p.129-p.132.

  • Y. Ohashi, K. Ushida (1996) Effect of initial sulfate level on electron partition between methanogenesis and sulfate reduction in the rumen Annales de Zootechnie 45(Suppl.), p.320.

  • C.J.Newbold, K. Ushida, B. Morvanc, G.Fonty (1996) The role of ciliate protozoa in the lysis of methanogenic bacteria in rumen fluid. Letters in Applied Microbiology23(5 ) :p. 421-p.425.

  • M.Tokura, K. Ushida, K.Miyazaki, Y.Kojima (1997) Methanogens associated with rumen ciliates FEMS Microbiology Ecology 22: p.137-p.143.

  • K.UshidaC.J.Newbold, J.P.Jouany (1997) Interspecies hydrogen transfer between the rumen ciliate Polyplastron multivesiculatum and Methanosarcina barkeri. Journal of General and Applied Microbiology43: p.129-p.131.

  • K.Ushida, S.Fukusada, Y. Kojima　 (1998) Effect of pH on Dissimilatory Sulfate Reduction by Porcine Cecal Microflora.Animal Science and Technology 69(6) : p.571-p.575.

  • M.Tokura, I.Chagan, K. Ushida, Y.Kojima (1999) Phylogenetic study of Methanogens associated with rumen ciliates. Curr.Microbiol. 39: 123-128.

  • I. Chagan, M.Tokura, J.P.Jouany, Ushida, K.(1999) Detection of methanogenic archaea associated with rumen ciliate protozoa. J. Gen. Appl. Microbiol. 45(6), 305-308.


    Hydrolytic activity in the gut microbial ecosystems

  • K.Ushida, Y. Fujino, H.Matsui, J.K.Ha (1997) Role and potential of ruminal fungi in fiber degradation AJAS 10(6):p. 541-p.550.

  • H. Matsui, K. Ushida, K. MIyazaki, Y.Kojima (1998) Use of ratio of digested xylan to digested cellulose(X/C) as an index of fiber digestion in plant cell-wall material by ruminal microorganisms.　Anim.Feed Sci. Technol. 71(3-4): 207-215.

  • Y.Fujino, K.Ogata, T. Nagamine, and K.Ushida (1998) Cloning, Sequencing, and Expression of an Endoglucanase Gene from Rumen Anaerobic Fungus Neocallimastix frontalis MCH3. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry 62 (9) :1795 -1798．

  • J.P.Jouany and K.Ushida (1999) The role of protozoa in feed digestion.Asian Australasian Journal of Animal Science 12:113-129.

  • Y.Fujino and K.Ushida (1999) Plant cell-wall degradation and glycanase activity of the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis MCH3 grown on various for age. Asian Australasian Journal of Animal Science 12:752-757.

  • C.Suzuki and K.Ushida (2000) Evaluation of phytin phosphohydrolyzing activity of rumen bacterial population. Asian Australasian Journal of Animal Science 13(7) 957-961.
  • Joblin K.N., Matsui H, Naylor G.E. and Ushida K. (2002) Degradation of fresh ryegrass by methanogenic co-cultures of ruminal fungi grown in the presence or absence of Fibrobacter succinogenes. Current Microbiology 45, 46-53.




    • Academic activities

    Member of
  • Japanese Society of Nutrition and Food Science
  • Japan Society for Rumen Metabolism and Physiology
  • Japanese Society of Zootechnical Science
  • Japanese Society of Microbial Ecology
  • Hind gut Club of Japan
  • Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry
    • Field Research Oct 1981 Central Tibet Mar-May 1982 Central Tibet Feb 1993 Gobi desert Mongolia Sept-Oct 2002 Lunana Bhutan




    Bonjour. Je ne sais pas combien de francophones atteindront cette page.
    Je m'appelle Kaz Ushida. J'ai fini mes etudes au Centre de Recherches Zootechniques et Veterinaires de l'INRA de Theix (Clermont- Ferrand) dans le laboratoire de la Digestion (maintnant cet unit est deplacee au SRNH comme digestion microbienne) sous la direction de Messieurs Pierre Thivend et Jean-Pierre Jouany.
    J'etais boursier du gouvernement francais pendant ce temps-la(1982-1984). J'habite actuellement a Nishinomiya, juste a cote de Kobe, ou il y a eu des degats tres importants lors du seisme. La ville de Kobe est maintenant bien reconstruite mais il y a encore des batiments en voie de reconstruction.
    Je suis un alpiniste et un membre de "The Academic Alpine Club of Kyoto (AACK)". J'ai participe a plusieures expeditions en Himalaya organisees par l'AACK. Ces photographies sont des images de la montagne qui s'appelle "Gang Ben Chen(Le Grand Mont Blanc)" se trouvant sur la frontiere sino-nepalaise (N28.5 E85.5). Nous avons fait la premiere ascension en avril 1982. J'ai atteint le sommet de 7281 m.
    Vous pouvez trouver mon activite recente dans la montagne sur la page de Club Alpin de l'Universite de Kyoto Prefecture etAACK.





    J'etais plusieur fois en Tibet comme vous pouvez le trouver dans les pages ci-dessus.
    J'etais non seulement en Tibet de "main land"(au nord du Nepal) mais aussi en TIbet de cote de Yunnan. J'ai trouve beaucoup de difference entre ces deux regions sur leurs coutumes, nourritures, et surtout de l'alcohol.
    Au Tibet, j'ai toujour deguste de l'alcohol qui s'appelle "Chang" produite par une simple fermentation de grain d'Orge tibetanne (ou Ching-go　青裸麦 en Chinoise). Les tibetans donnent un nom chinois pour "Chang" comme "Chin-go-chu". Au Tibet cote d'Yunnan, je n'ai trouvez qu'une liqueur distillee tres forte. Cette liqueur s'appelle aussi "Chin-go-chu".
    Les tibetans habitent aux ces deux regions ont de l'alcohol portant un nom commum mais dont les characteres tout a fait differentes, l'une fermentee, l'autre distillee. Je sais pas si on peut dire cette difference en alcohol doit etre lie d'une chinoilisation de tibetans dans la region d'Yunnan.



    gauche: le sommet de Kawagarbo(Mt. Meilin-xue-shan> droit:Meu-long glacier (Ming Yong glacier)
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