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Wakeman Kevin

Faculty of Science　Biological Sciences　BiodiversityAssistant Professor

My research interests broadly revolve around exploring the biodiversity and evolution single-celled marine microeukaryotes (protists). Currently, I am working on alveolates, a collective of organisms that include notorious apicompelxan pathogens such as causative agent of malaria, as well as dinoflagellate microalgae that produce harmful algal blooms (red tides) and shellfish poisoning. My goal is to apply this work to ecological and economical significant systems such as coral reef biology and shellfish fisheries in the oceans around Japan and globally.

Researcher basic information

■ Degree
  • PHD, University of British Columbia
■ URL
researchmap URLホームページURL■ Various IDs
J-Global ID■ Research Keywords and Fields
Research Keyword
  • Phylogenomics
  • Evolution
  • Systematics
  • Phylogenetics
  • Marine Biology
  • Biodiversity
Research Field
  • Life Science, Biodiversity and systematics
  • Life Science, Evolutionary biology
  • Life Science, Morphology and anatomical structure
  • Life Science, Cell biology
  • Life Science, Molecular biology
■ Educational Organization

Career

■ Career
Career
  • Mar. 2016 - Present
    Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education (ISP)/Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Biology, Assistant Professor
  • Apr. 2015 - Feb. 2016
    University of Tokyo, Center for Global Communication Strategies, Assistant Professor
  • Jan. 2013 - Mar. 2015
    Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Researcher/Research Specialist
  • Jun. 2010 - Dec. 2013
    University of British Coloumbia, Zoology Department, Teaching Assistant
Educational Background
  • Jun. 2010 - Dec. 2013, University of British Columbia, Zoology Department, PhD
  • Sep. 2005 - Dec. 2009, Humboldt State University, German, BA
  • Sep. 2005 - Dec. 2009, Humboldt State University, Biology, BSc

Research activity information

■ Awards
  • Apr. 2019, Hokkaido University, Young Researcher Award
    Kevin Wakeman
  • 2013, University of British Columbia, Zoology Department, Zoology Graduate Student Award
    Kevin Wakeman
■ Papers
■ Other Activities and Achievements
■ Lectures, oral presentations, etc.
  • A taxonomic study of a novel Haplozoon parasite from Akkeshi, Japan
    Mana Yamamoto; Kevin Wakeman; 冨岡森理; 堀口健雄
    Japanese Society of Phycology, 20 Mar. 2018, Poster presentation
  • Taxonomic study of two new Amphidinium species (Dynophyceae) with predominant non-motile stage
    Joao Henriques; Kiefer e Silva; Kevin Wakeman; Ryuta Terada; Takeo Horiguchi
    Japanese Society of Phycology, 20 Mar. 2018, English, Poster presentation
  • Diversity of Marine Gregarine Apicomplexans
    Davis Iritani; Takeo Horiguchi; Kevin Wakeman
    Japanese Society of Phycology, 20 Mar. 2018, English, Oral presentation
  • The Evolutionary (photosynthetic) history of marine apicomplexans and their bizarre relatives
    Kevin Wakeman
    Botanical Society of Japan, 10 Nov. 2017, English, Invited oral presentation
    [Invited]
  • Algal toxins from novel strains of benthic dinoflagellates from Okinawa, Japan
    Kevin Wakeman
    20 Aug. 2015, English, Public discourse
    [Invited]
  • A brief look at remnant plastids in gregarine apicomplexans
    Kevin Wakeman
    10 Aug. 2015, English, Public discourse
    [Invited]
  • Transciptomics reveal relic plastids and diverse evolutionary histories among marine gregarine apicomplexans
    Kevin Wakeman
    10 May 2015, English, Public discourse
  • Apicomplexans in our oceans
    Kevin Wakeman
    2014, Public discourse
    [Invited]
  • Evolutionary history of two sister species exemplify niche partitioning among gregarine apicomplexans
    Kevin Wakeman
    International Congress of Protistology, 07 Aug. 2013, English, Oral presentation
    [International presentation]
  • Marine Apicomplexan Associates of Coral Reefs
    Kevin Wakeman
    Jan. 2013, English, Public discourse
    [Invited]
  • Marine Apicomplexans
    Kevin Wakeman
    Oct. 2012, English, Public discourse
    [Invited]
  • Evolutionary History of Marine Gregarine Apicomplexans
    Kevin Wakeman
    International Society of Protistology, 05 Aug. 2012, English, Oral presentation
    [International presentation]
  • Eugregarine and the Archigregarine Concepts
    Kevin Wakeman
    Joint meeting of the International Society of Evolutionary Protistologsts and the Phycological Society of America, 2011, English, Oral presentation
    [International presentation]
■ Syllabus
  • 自然史科学特別講義Ⅲ, 2024年, 修士課程, 理学院
  • 自然史科学特別講義Ⅲ, 2024年, 修士課程, 理学院
  • 多様性生物学研究法, 2024年, 修士課程, 理学院
  • 国際交流Ⅱ, 2024年, 学士課程, 国際本部
  • 多様性生物学Ⅰ, 2024年, 学士課程, 総合教育部
  • 多様性生物学Ⅱ, 2024年, 学士課程, 総合教育部
  • 多様性生物学Ⅲ, 2024年, 学士課程, 理学部
  • 専門横断科目（一般科目）：自然科学・応用科学, 2024年, 学士課程, 専門横断科目
  • 専門横断科目（一般科目）：自然科学・応用科学, 2024年, 学士課程, 専門横断科目
  • 専門横断科目（一般科目）：自然科学・応用科学, 2024年, 学士課程, 専門横断科目
  • 専門横断科目（一般科目）：自然科学・応用科学, 2024年, 学士課程, 専門横断科目
  • 専門横断科目（一般科目）：自然科学・応用科学, 2024年, 学士課程, 専門横断科目
  • 専門横断科目（一般科目）：自然科学・応用科学, 2024年, 学士課程, 専門横断科目
  • 科学・技術の世界, 2024年, 学士課程, 全学教育
  • 生物学Ⅰ, 2024年, 学士課程, 全学教育
■ Affiliated academic society
  • International Society of Protistologists
■ Research Themes
  • Speciation patterns of Lankesteria (Apicomplexan) parasites and their tunicate (Chordata) hosts
    Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
    01 Apr. 2025 - 31 Mar. 2028
    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C), Hokkaido University, 25K09752
  • Exploring the unknown biodiversity of apicomplexan parasites (Apicomplexa) in bivalve shellfish (Mollusca) in Japan
    Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
    01 Apr. 2020 - 31 Mar. 2023
    Wakeman Kevin
    For this project, we collected 40 blue mussels, 40 Pacific Oysters and a total of 180 Hokkaido Scallop, from Hokkaido, Japan. Generally, samples were processed for histology, genomic DNA isolation, and also prepared for laser dissection microscopy. We started with the processing of scallop because we had more samples of those. We were able to amplified 18S rDNA and also conduct phylogenetic analyses in order to assess relationships of these parasites compared to samples collected in previous studies around the world. As a results, we found two ciliates, Tichodina pectenis and Ancistrum sp. We also were able to isolate and identify an apicomplexan parasite, Merocystis kathae. This was the first report of all three of these organisms in Japan. For each of these organisms, we were able to gather histology and amplify 18S rDNA. We are currently processing the blue mussels and pacific oysters.
    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists, Hokkaido University, 20K15856
  • Studies on species biodiversity and evolution of enigmatic parasitic dinoflagellates, Haplozoon spp., which acquired multicellularity.
    Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
    01 Apr. 2020 - 31 Mar. 2023
    HORIGUCHI TAKEO
    The parasitic genus Haplozoon is known to possess multicellular organization and this is the only example of multicellularity within the group Dinophyceae. The aims of this project were to understand species diversity, accurate phylogenetic position and cytological features of the genus Haplozoon. All the specimens from Japan were identified as H. pugnus and also the same species has been identified from Canadian Pacific coast, although the host species were different. Multigene phylogeny based on 241 genes obtained through unicellular transcriptomic method indicated that the group had evolved within the order Peridiniales. Membrane staining study revealed that the organisms have true multicellular organization. Functional and structural analyses on remnant plastid, apical spine and endosymbiotic bacteria are currently underway.
    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Hokkaido University, 20H03304
  • Cellular identity, systematics and biogeography of apicomplexan parasites Genotype-N and Gemmocystis infecting coral reefs
    Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
    01 Apr. 2018 - 31 Mar. 2021
    Wakeman Kevin
    This work focused on sampling apicomplexans associated with coral reefs. Samples were collected from Okinawa and in locations around Southern Japan, including Ishigaki, Kagoshima and Hiroshima. Samples were processed for histology and PCR screening of apicomplexans using the 18S rDNA. Samples were also prepared for next generation sequencing, in order to gain a better understanding of the diversity of apicomplexans associated with these samples. In total over 80 species of coral were sampled and sent for sequencing. As a general result, we found that apicomplexans that associate with coral are broadly distributed, geographically and throughout coral reefs. To this end, coral in Japan have similar communities of apicomplexans to those found in other localities such as the Caribbean. While similar, these species are likely different, and appear to be unique to the waters around Japan.
    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists, Hokkaido University, 18K14774
  • Apicomplexans associated with coral reefs in Japan
    Grant in-aid for Young Scientists B
    Apr. 2018 - Mar. 2020
    Kevin Wakeman
    Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Principal investigator, Competitive research funding
  • Novel haplosporidian and apicomplexan parasites infecting shellfish fisheries between Japan and New Zealand
    Bilaterial Joint Research
    Apr. 2017 - Mar. 2019
    Kevin Wakeman; Jonathan Banks; Stephen Webb
    Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Principal investigator, Competitive research funding