Hiro has posted on LinkedIn.
Maizuru: Solid-state fermentation plant
I am currently in Maizuru, Kyoto where our solid-fermentation plant locates. Solid-state fermentation is a cultivation method that microorganisms grow on solid substrates containing some amount of moisture. Solid-state fermentation using filamentous fungi, in particular, is known to express different genes and produce multiple enzymes compared to liquid fermentation due to differences in cultivation conditions. Even if the substrate and product are the same, different enzymes with different characteristics can be produced between liquid- and solid-state cultures. Alternatively, enzymes that remain inside cells in liquid culture can be secreted outside cells in solid culture. The changes in gene expression and intracellular behavior due to differences in cultivation methods are very intriguing.