Introduction

Yoshinobu Hayashi is a researcher focusing on social organization and its evolution in termites, one of the representative eusocial insects. His research aims to elucidate the physiological and genetic mechanisms of the division of labor in termites and their evolutionary processes. His research contributes significantly to our understanding of the sociality and evolution of insects.

■Social Evolution and Caste Differentiation
・Research Objective: To understand the comprehensive gene expression profiles during caste differentiation in the termite Reticulitermes speratus.
- Title: Comparison of gene expression profiles among caste differentiations in the termite Reticulitermes speratus, Saiki Ryota, Hayashi Yoshinobu, Toga Kouhei, Yaguchi Hajime, Masuoka Yudai, Suzuki Ryutaro, Fujiwara Kokuto, Shigenobu Shuji, Maekawa Kiyoto （Scientific Reports） 12 （ 1 ） Jul. 2022
・Research Objective: To investigate the role of gene duplication in facilitating social evolution in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes speratus.
- Title: Genomic and transcriptomic analyses of the subterranean termite Reticulitermes speratus: Gene duplication facilitates social evolution, Shigenobu Shuji, Hayashi Yoshinobu, Watanabe Dai, Tokuda Gaku, Hojo Masaru Y., Toga Kouhei, Saiki Ryota, Yaguchi Hajime, Masuoka Yudai, Suzuki Ryutaro, Suzuki Shogo, Kimura Moe, Matsunami Masatoshi, Sugime Yasuhiro, Oguchi Kohei, Niimi Teruyuki, Gotoh Hiroki, Hojo Masaru K., Miyazaki Satoshi, Toyoda Atsushi, Miura Toru, Maekawa Kiyoto （Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences） 119 （ 3 ） Jan. 2022
・Research Objective: To explore the collective behavior, differentiation, and social organization of superorganisms and the mechanisms underlying their integrated systems.
- Title: Understanding of superorganisms: collective behavior, differentiation and social organization, Miura Toru, Oguchi Kohei, Yamaguchi Haruka, Nakamura Mayuko, Sato Daisuke, Kobayashi Kenta, Kutsukake Nobuyuki, Miura Kyoko, Hayashi Yoshinobu, Hojo Masaru, Maekawa Kiyoto, Shigenobu Shuji, Kano Takeshi, Ishiguro Akio （Artificial Life and Robotics） 27 （ 2 ） 204-212 May. 2022
■Genomic and Genetic Analysis
・Research Objective: To investigate the unique characteristics and roles of vitellogenin genes in nonreproductive castes of the termite Reticulitermes speratus.
- Title: Evolution and functionalization of vitellogenin genes in the termite Reticulitermes speratus, Yaguchi Hajime, Suzuki Shogo, Kanasaki Naoto, Masuoka Yudai, Suzuki Ryutaro, Suzuki Ryouhei H., Hayashi Yoshinobu, Shigenobu Shuji, Maekawa Kiyoto （Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution） 340 （ 1 ） 68-80 Jan. 2023
・Research Objective: To identify and compare the expression levels of chemosensory genes in the antennae of worker and soldier termites to understand their role in signal transduction and social interactions.
- Title: Gene expression profiles of chemosensory genes of termite soldier and worker antennae, Suzuki Ryohei H., Hanada Takumi, Hayashi Yoshinobu, Shigenobu Shuji, Maekawa Kiyoto, Hojo Masaru K. （Insect Molecular Biology） 32 （ 4 ） 424-435 Aug. 2023
・Research Objective: To identify genes expressed in termite workers that fluctuate in the presence of soldiers and understand their role in regulating soldier differentiation.
- Title: Transcriptomics on Social Interactions in Termites: Effects of Soldier Presence, Matsunami Masatoshi, Watanabe Dai, Fujiwara Kokuto, Hayashi Yoshinobu, Shigenobu Shuji, Miura Toru, Maekawa Kiyoto （Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution） 10 Jun. 2022
■Developmental and Physiological Mechanisms
・Research Objective: To analyze gene expression patterns during the regeneration of the multi-organ complex after evisceration in the sea cucumber Eupentacta quinquesemita.
- Title: Gene-expression patterns during regeneration of the multi-organ complex after evisceration in the sea cucumber Eupentacta quinquesemita, Okada Akari, Udagawa Sumio, Kohtsuka Hisanori, Hayashi Yoshinobu, Miura Toru （Frontiers in Marine Science） 11 Mar. 2024
・Research Objective: To analyze the morphological, histological, and gene-expression changes during stolonization in the Japanese Green Syllid, Megasyllis nipponica.
- Title: Morphological, histological and gene-expression analyses on stolonization in the Japanese Green Syllid, Megasyllis nipponica (Annelida, Syllidae), Nakamura Mayuko, Oguchi Kohei, Sato Daisuke S., Kato Sumika, Okanishi Masanori, Hayashi Yoshinobu, Aguado M. Teresa, Miura Toru （Scientific Reports） 13 （ 1 ） Nov. 2023
・Research Objective: To describe the spatiotemporal coordination of thoracic crop formation with flight muscle histolysis during claustral colony foundation in Lasius japonicus queens.
- Title: Thoracic crop formation is spatiotemporally coordinated with flight muscle histolysis during claustral colony foundation in Lasius japonicus queens, Kurihara Yuta, Ogawa Kota, Chiba Yudai, Hayashi Yoshinobu, Miyazaki Satoshi （Arthropod Structure & Development） 69 101169 Jul. 2022

Areas of Research

・Social Evolution and Social Organization
・Genomic and Transcriptome Analysis
・Developmental and Physiological Mechanisms

Social Contributions

・Understanding genomic changes in termite social behavior evolution helps unravel the complexity of social systems and altruistic behavior in biology.
・Insights into the genetic basis of division of labor in termites contributes to understanding mechanisms of social organization in nature.