Kunio Yamazaki

Member

Education

Ph.D., Biology; University of Tokyo

Research Summary

Just as each person has a unique fingerprint, our research suggests that each person also has a unique odor. This odor is controlled in part by specific genes. Except for identical twins, the genotype of each individual is unique; similarly the odortype of each individual is also unique. So-called DNA fingerprinting has now become a common method of identifying criminals; odortyping could theoretically also serve this purpose, just as it presumably serves as the basis for tracking of human by dogs.

My research has focused on odortypes, which are defined as genetically-determined body odors that distinguish one individual of a species from another. The MHC-determined odortype is that portion of the animal’s total odortype that is under the control of genes in the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), also important to immune recognition. In addition to this work, my laboratory is also involved in research on model studies of how odors may signal preclinical disease and how body odor changes with age.

Keywords

genetics, behavioral responses to MHC, odortypes, body odor, aging, disease

Recent Publications

Kwak, J.; Willse, A.; Preti, G.; Yamazaki, K. and Beauchamp,G. K. (2010) “In search of the chemical basis for MHC odourtypes.” Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 277, 2417-25.

Matsumura, K.; Opiekun, M.; Oka, H.; Vachani, A.; Albelda, S. M.; Yamazaki, K. and Beauchamp, G. K. (2010) “Urinary volatile compounds as biomarkers for lung cancer: A proof of principle study using odor signatures in mouse models of lung cancer.” PLoS One. 5.1, e8819.

Kwak, J.; Curran-Opiekun, M.; Matsumura, K.; Preti, G.; Yamazaki, K.; Beauchamp, G. K. (2009) “Major histocompatibility complex-regulated odortypes: Peptide-free urinary volatile signals.” Physiology & Behavior. 96, 184-88.

Kwak, J.; Willse, A.; Matsumura, K.; Preti, G.; Yamazaki, K.; Beauchamp, G. K. (2008) “Genetically-based olfactory signatures persist despite dietary variation.” PLoS ONE. 3, e3591.

Lundström, J. N.; Wysocki, C. J.; Olsson, M. J.; Yamazaki, K.; Preti, G. (2008) “Explaining the association between kinship and fertility.” Science. 320, 1160-61.

Osada, K.; Curran, M.; Kurachi, M.; Tsunoda, K.; Yamazaki, K. (2008) “Effect of an orally ingested mugwort and mushroom extract mixture on urine odor from aged mice.” Bioscience Biotechnology Biochemistry. 72.5, 1249-56.

Yamazaki, K. and Beauchamp, G. K. (2007) “Genetic basis for MHC-dependent mate choice.” Advances in Genetics. 59, 129-45.

Yamazaki, K. (2007) “Olfaction and Behavior Genetics.” in Science of Smell and Aroma (in Japanese). Ed. T. Shibuya and M. Ichikawa. Asakura Publishers, 166-83.

Restrepo, D.; Lin, W.; Salcedo, E.; Yamazaki, K. and Beauchamp, G. K. (2006) “Odortypes and MHC peptides: complimentary chemosignals of MHC haplotype?” Trends in Neurosciences. 29, 604-09.

Willse, A.; Kwak, J.; Yamazaki, K.; Preti, G.; Wahl, J. H. and Beauchamp, G. K. (2006) “Individual odortypes: Interaction of MHC and background genes.” Immunogenetics. 58, 967-82.

Beauchamp, G. K. and Yamazaki, K. (2005) “Individual differences and the chemical senses.” Chemical Senses. 30 Suppl. 1, i6-i9.

Lab Staff

Maryanne Opiekun: Senior Research Specialist
Talia Martin: Laboratory Assistant