Kohei Homma, PhD

Education

• Ph.D., Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Tokyo - Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences (2003)
• MS, Science and Engineering, University of Tsukuba - Graduate School of Science and Engineering (2000)
• BS, Engineering Sciences, University of Tsukuba - College of Engineering Sciences (1998)

Research Interests

Dr. Kohei Homma is originally trained in engineering and molecular biology field - he has been trying to understand the molecular mechanism and interaction happening in human body, from gene expression to structure/function analysis of protein. After ten years’ research in academia, Dr. Homma joined Amino Up, a Japan’s innovative biotech company that develops and produces unique functional ingredients from natural sources. The company focuses in the field of nutrition and integrative health, for disease prevention and global health promotion. Dr. Homma is currently Senior Executive Director in Amino Up, responsible for business development and R&D divisions, and engages in global business expansion, technical sales and marketing support for customers, product development and key collaborative research management, utilizing his scientific expertise and global business experience. 

Selected Publications

1. The effect of asparagus stem consumption on health outcomes in adults: a systematic review. Davies A, Lamport D, Homma K, Takanari J, Hepsomali P. British Journal of Nutrition, 2026 Jun 18: 1-11 (2026)
2. Oral Supplementation with AHCC®, A Standardized Extract of Cultured Lentinula edodes Mycelia, Enhances Host Resistance against SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Singh A, Adam A, Rodriguez L, Peng BH, Wang B, Xie X, Shi PY, Homma K, Wang T. Pathogens, 12: 554 (2023)
3. Synergistic effect of standardized extract of Asparagus officinalis stem and heat shock on progesterone synthesis with lipid droplets and mitochondrial function in bovine granulosa cells. Ho KT, Balboula AZ, Homma K, Takanari J, Bai H, Kawahara M, Nguyen KTM, Takahashi M. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 225:106181 (2023)
4. Lentinula edodes extract increases goblet cell number and Muc2 expression in an intestinal inflammatory model of Trichinella spiralis infection. López-Cauce B, Urquía A, Menchén L, Homma K, Bolás-Fernández F, García-Rodriguez JJ, Puerto M. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 150: 112937 (2022)
5. AHCC®, a Standardized Extract of Cultured Lentinula Edodes Mycelia, Promotes the Anti-Tumor Effect of Dual Immune Checkpoint Blockade Effect in Murine Colon Cancer. Park H, Boo S, Park I, Shin MS, Takahashi T, Takanari J, Homma K, Kang I. Frontiers in Immunology, 13:875872 (2022)
6. A standardized extract of Asparagus officinalis stem improves HSP70‑mediated redox balance and cell functions in bovine cumulus‑granulosa cells. Ho KT, Homma K, Takanari J, Bai H, Kawahara M, Nguyen KTK, Takahashi M. Scientific Reports, 11:18175 (2021)
7. Neuroprotective Effects of Asparagus officinalis Stem Extract in Transgenic Mice Overexpressing Amyloid Precursor Protein. Peng Z, Bedi S, Mann V, Sundaresan A, Homma K, Gaskey G, Kowada M, Umar S, Kulkarni AD, Eltzschig HK, Doursout MF. Journal of Immunology Research, 8121407 (2021)
8. MicroRNA signature in the chemoprevention of functionally-enriched stem and progenitor pools (FESPP) by Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC). Graham E, Mallet JF, Jambi M, Nishioka H, Homma K, Matar C. Cancer Biology & Therapy, 18(10):765-774 (2017)
9. Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) promotes an intestinal immune response in BALB/c mice and in primary intestinal epithelial cell culture involving toll-like receptors TLR-2 and TLR-4. Mallet JF, Graham E, Ritz BW, Homma K, Matar C. European Journal of Nutrition, DOI 10.1007/s00394-015-0832-2 (2015)
10. Effects of Active Hexose Correlated Compound on the Seasonal Variations of Immune Competence in Healthy Subjects. Takanari J, Hirayama Y, Homma K, Miura T, Nishioka H, Maeda T. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 20(1):28-34 (2015)
11. Effect of Lychee Fruit Extract (Oligonol) on Peripheral Circulation, a Pilot Study. Kitadate K, Aoyagi K, Homma K. Natural Medicine Journal 6(7), July (2014)
12. Thirteen-week oral dose toxicity study of Oligonol containing oligomerized polyphenols extracted from lychee and green tea. Kitadate K, Homma K, Roberts A, Maeda T. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol., 68(1):140-146 (2014)
13. Testing of Perilla frutescens extract and Vicenin 2 for their antispasmodic effect. Verspohl EJ, Fujii H, Homma K, Buchwald-Werner S. Phytomedicine 20(5):427-31 (2013)
14. Cocrystallization studies of full-length recombinant butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) with cocaine. Asojo OA, Ngamelue MN, Homma K and Lockridge O. Acta Crystallographica F67, 434-437 (2011)
15. Purification and crystallization of RNase HIII from Staphylococcus aureus. Reiling SA, Homma K, Asojo OA. Acta Crystallographica F67, 79-82 (2010)
16. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of Na-SAA-2 from the human hookworm parasite Necator americanus. Asojo OA, Goud GN, Zhan B, Ordonez K, Sedlacek M, Homma K, Deumic V, Gupta R, Brelsford J, Price MK, Ngamelue MN, Hotez PJ. Acta Crystallographica F66, 172-176 (2010)
17. Crystallization and crystal-packing studies of Chlorella virus deoxyuridine triphosphatase. Homma K and Moriyama H. Acta Crystallographica F65, 1030-1034 (2009)
18. Crystallization and X-ray structure of full-length recombinant human butyrylcholinesterase. Ngamelue MN, Homma K, Lockridge O and Asojo OA. Acta Crystallographica F63, 723-727 (2007)
19. X-ray structures of Na-GST-1 and Na-GST-2 two glutathione s-transferase from human hookworm Necator americanus. Asojo OA, Homma K, Sedlacek M, Ngamelue M, Goud GN, Zhan B, Deumic V, Asojo O and Hotez PJ. BMC Structural Biology 7 (1), 42 (2007)
20. Chlorella Virus-Encoded Deoxyuridine Triphosphatases Exhibit Different Temperature Optima. Zhang Y, Moriyama H, Homma K and Van Etten JL. Journal of Virology 79, 9945-9953 (2005).
21. Crystallization Trials of Nitroreductase NfsB on the Ground for the Application to Crystallization in Microgravity. Sawano Y, Homma K, Lee WC and Tanokura M. Journal of The Japan Society of Microgravity Application 22, 86-93 (2005).
22. The Optimized Crystallization of Nitroreductase NfsB from E. coli by Studying Phase Diagram and the Crystal Structure of NfsB F124S Mutant. Homma K. Ph.D. Thesis, Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan (2003).
23. The effect of amphiphilic additives on the growth and morphology of Aspergillus niger acid proteinase A crystals. Tanaka S, Ataka M, Kubota T, Soga T, Homma K, Lee WC and Tanokura M. Journal of Crystal Growth 234, 247-254 (2002).
24. Importance of nitrate in the crystal growth of cytochrome c from four biological species judged by morphodrom analysis. Kubota T, Homma K, Noda J, Yamane T and Ataka M. Journal of Crystal Growth 233, 813-822 (2001).
25. Crystal Growth of Cytochrome c. Practical Method for Detecting mG Effects in Protein Crystallization. Homma K, Takano KJ, Tanaka S, Sakurazawa S, Kubota T and Ataka M. Journal of the Japan Society of Microgravity Application 16, 7-8 (1999)