Publications

Satoshi Ōmura's research focuses primarily on the discovery and isolation of useful microorganisms and bioactive substances produced by them. By improving isolation and cultivation methods of microorganisms, and establishing innovative screening systems, he has found nearly 400 new compounds. He has published extensively, in several languages, and his textbook on Macrolide Antibiotics remains a global standard. To access a list of scientific publications by year, please select below.


Key publications

  • R. W. Burg, B. M. Miller, E. E. Baker, J. Birnbaum, S. A. Currie, R. Hartman, Y.-L. Kong, R. Monaghan, G. Olson, I. Putter, J. B. Tunac, H. Wallick, E. O. Stapley, R. Oiwa and S. Ōmura. Avermectins, new family of potent anthelmintic agents: producing organism and fermentation. Antimicrob. Agents & Chemother., 15, 361-367 (1979). [pdf]

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  • D. A. Hopwood, F. Malphatida, H. M. Kieser, H. Ikeda, J. Juncan, I. Fujii, B. A. M. Rudd, H. G. Floss, and S. Ōmura. Production of 'hybrid' antibiotics by genetic engineering. Nature, 314 (6012), 642-644 (1985). [full text]

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  • S. Ōmura. Philosophy of new drug discovery. Microbiol. Rev., 50, 259-379 (1986). [pdf]

  • H. Ikeda and S. Ōmura. Avermectin biosynthesis. Chem. Rev., 97, 2591-2609 (1997).

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  • H. Ikeda, T. Nonomiya, M. Usami, T. Ohta, and S. Ōmura. Organization of the biosynthetic gene cluster for the polyketide anthelmintic macrolide avermectin in Streptomyces avermitilis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 96, 9509-9514 (1999). [full text]

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  • S. Ōmura, H. Miyadera, H. Ui, K. Shiomi, Y. Yamaguchi, R. Masuma, T. Nagamitsu, D. Takano, T. Sunazuka, A. Harder, H. Kolbl, M. Namikoshi, H. Sakamoto, and K. Kita. An anthelmintic compound, nafuredin, shows relative inhibition of complex I in helminth mitochondria. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 98, 60-62 (2001). [full text]

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  • M. Hayashi, M.-C. Rho, A. Enomoto, A. Fukami, Y.-P. Kim, Y. Kikuchi, T. Sunazuka, T. Hirose, K. Komiyama, and S. Ōmura. Suppression of bone resorption by madindoline A, a novel nonpeptide antagonist to gp130. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 99, 14728-14739 (2002). [full text]

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  • H. Miyadera, K. Shiomi, H. Ui, Y. Yamaguchi, R. Masuma, H. Tomoda, H. Miyoshi, A. Osanai, K. Kita, and S. Ōmura. Atpenins, potent and specific inhibitors of mitochondria complex II (succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 100, 473-477 (2003). [full text]

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  • H. Ikeda, J. Ishikawa, A. Hanamoto, M. Shinose, H. Kikuchi, T. Shiba, Y. Sasaki, M. Hattori, and S. Ōmura. Complete genome sequence and comparative analysis of the industrial microorganism Streptomyces avermitilis. Nature Biotechnol., 21, 526-531 (2003). [full text]

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  • S. Ōmura and A. Crump. The life and times of ivermectin – a success story. Nature Reviews/Microbology, 2, 984-989 (2004). [PubMed]

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  • M. Iwatsuki, H. Tomoda, R. Uchida, H. Gouda, S. Hirono, and S. Ōmura. Lariatins, antimycobacterial peptides produced by Rhodococcus sp. K01-B0171, have a Lasso structure. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 128, 7486-7491 (2006). [full text]

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  • T. Sunazuka and S. Ōmura. Total synthesis of α-pyrone meroterpenoids, novel bioactive microbial metabolites. Chem. Rev., 105, 4559-4580 (2005).

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  • Macrolide Antibiotics: Chemistry, Biology and Practice (2nd Edition). S. Ōmura. Academic Press, New York.(2002). 637pp. [how to order]