Current Affiliation Organization 【 display / non-display 】

Current Affiliation Organization 【 display / non-display 】

External Career 【 display / non-display 】

External Career 【 display / non-display 】

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Research Interests 【 display / non-display 】

Research Interests 【 display / non-display 】

Research Areas 【 display / non-display 】

Research Areas 【 display / non-display 】

Published Papers 【 display / non-display 】

Published Papers 【 display / non-display 】

• Evidence for endogenous rhythmicity in cirral activity of the intertidal barnacle <i>Fistulobalanus albicostatus</i>

  Katayama, A; Takekata, H; Kunita, I; Takemura, A

  SCIENTIFIC REPORTS ( Scientific Reports )  15 ( 1 ) 44100   2025.12 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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• Flow-Driven Fusion Edge Selection for Network Integration Inspired by Physarum polycephalum

  Megumi Uza, Itsuki Kunita

  Journal of Information and Communication Engineering   12 ( 2 ) 638 - 646   2025.12 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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    DOI

• Synergistic development model of population growth and infrastructure networks based on the slime mold network

  Uza, M; Kinjo, A; Kunita, I

  ARTIFICIAL LIFE AND ROBOTICS ( Artificial Life and Robotics )  30 ( 3 ) 523 - 533   2025.08 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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• Four-dimensional phenotyping reveals MYOSIN XI-dependent establishment of branch morphology through upward- and stably-directed growth in Arabidopsis

  Yoshida, D; Kunita, I; Toda, M; Ueda, H; Higaki, T

  QUANTITATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY ( Quantitative Plant Biology )  6   e15   2025.06 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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• Modeling of Long-Distance Backward Swimming in <i>Paramecia</i> Based on the Relaxation Process of Chemical Gradients

  UZA Megumi, SUNAGAWA Hiroya, KUNITA Itsuki

  Journal of Computer Chemistry, Japan ( Society of Computer Chemistry, Japan )  24 ( 2 ) 58 - 67   2025

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

  　View Summary

  <p>This study aims to model the spatial adaptive behavior of <i>Paramecium</i> based on the relaxation process of chemical gradients. <i>Paramecium</i> exhibits a behavior in which it repeats short-distance backward swimming upon collision with obstacles in narrow spaces, thus gradually increasing the distance of its backward swimming until it exhibits long-distance backward swimming. This behavior arises from the changes in the membrane potential induced by intracellular and extracellular chemical gradients, which control the direction and frequency of ciliary movement. To replicate this behavior, a mathematical model was developed by integrating an electrophysiological model of membrane potential with a motility model that formalizes the relationship between membrane dynamics and ciliary motion. Numerical simulations successfully reproduced the transition from short-distance to long-distance backward swimming and revealed that, in addition to the slow response of calcium ion channels, a dynamically changing threshold of calcium current for inducing backward swimming is essential. These findings suggest that Paramecium possesses an adaptive capability driven not only by passive responses to chemical gradients but also by an intrinsic control mechanism mediated through the dynamics of membrane potential and ciliary motion.</p>

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Other Papers 【 display / non-display 】

Other Papers 【 display / non-display 】

• Fusion Edge Selection Method Using a Slime Mold Model

  Megumi Uza, Itsuki Kunita

  Proceedings of ICIIBMS 2026     2025.12  [Refereed]

   

• Impact of Shepherd Interaction on Flock Dynamics in MultiShepherding

  仲田圭吾, 松本晶子, 國田樹

  SCIS&ISIS 2024     2024.11  [Refereed]

   

• Relationship between the Proportion of Agents with Different Repulsion Distances and Their Spatial Arrangement

  本間野々花, 松本晶子, 國田樹

  SCIS&ISIS 2024     2024.11  [Refereed]

   

• Reforming network routes using phase changes in slime molds

  宇座恩, 國田樹

  SCIS&ISIS 2024     2024.11  [Refereed]

   

• Cellular Ethological Dynamics in Diorama Environments

  Nishigami, Y; Kunita, I; Sato, K; Nakagaki, T

  JOURNAL OF THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN ( Journal of the Physical Society of Japan )  92 ( 12 )   2023.12  [Refereed]

   

  DOI

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Presentations 【 display / non-display 】

Presentations 【 display / non-display 】

• Swimming Behavior of Coral Larvae Driven by Ciliary Motion

  Nonoka Homma, Yuhei Mori, Masaya Morita, Itsuki Kunita, Toshiyuki Nakagaki

  Oxford-Japan Symposium on Cell Behaviors in Simple to Complex Environments  2025.09  -  2025.09 

• Mathematical Modeling of the Cluster Formation Process in heterotypic cell populations

  Nonoka Homma, Itsuki Kunita

  Oxford-Japan Symposium on Cell Behaviors in Simple to Complex Environments  2025.09  -  2025.09 

• Mathematical Modeling and Simulation of the morphological Change Process in Slime Molds Driven by Environmental Adaptation

  Megumi Uza, Itsuki Kunita

  Oxford-Japan Symposium on Cell Behaviors in Simple to Complex Environments  2025.09  -  2025.09 

• Reforming network routes using phase changes in slime molds

  Megumi Uza, Itsuki Kunita

  SCIS&ISIS 2024  2024.11  -  2024.11 

• Impact of Shepherd Interaction on Flock Dynamics in MultiShepherding

  Keigo Nakada, Akiko Matsumoto-Oda, Itsuki Kunita

  SCIS&ISIS 2024  2024.11  -  2024.11 

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Academic Awards 【 display / non-display 】

Academic Awards 【 display / non-display 】

• Best Paper Award

  2015.09   The 6th Japan-China-Korea MEMS/NEMS 2015   Angiogenic sprouts form perfusable vascular networks inside multicellular spheroid

  Winner: Yuji Nashimoto, Itsuki Kunita, Akiko Nakamasu, Yusuke Torisawa, Hisako Imamura-Takigawa, Hidetoshi Kotera, Koichi Nishiyama, Takashi Miura, Ryuji Yokokawa

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research 【 display / non-display 】

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research 【 display / non-display 】

• Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C)

  Project Year: 2023.04  -  2027.03 

  Direct: 3,600,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 4,680,000 (YEN)  Total: 1,080,000 (YEN)

• Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C)

  Project Year: 2023.04  -  2027.03 

  Direct: 3,600,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 4,680,000 (YEN)  Total: 1,080,000 (YEN)

• Heuristic algorithm of exploration and exploitation to the space geometry in ciliates and amoebae

  Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A)

  Project Year: 2021.09  -  2026.03 

  Direct: 92,400,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 120,120,000 (YEN)  Total: 27,720,000 (YEN)

• Heuristic algorithm of exploration and exploitation to the space geometry in ciliates and amoebae

  Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A)

  Project Year: 2021.09  -  2026.03 

  Direct: 92,400,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 120,120,000 (YEN)  Total: 27,720,000 (YEN)

• Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C)

  Project Year: 2019.04  -  2023.03 

  Direct: 3,400,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 4,420,000 (YEN)  Total: 1,020,000 (YEN)

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SDGs 【 display / non-display 】

SDGs 【 display / non-display 】

Amount of external funds acquired by year 【 display / non-display 】

Amount of external funds acquired by year 【 display / non-display 】

Social Activity 【 display / non-display 】

Social Activity 【 display / non-display 】

• 2025.04

  -

  2026.03