We are pleased to announce that Dr. Dingbo Lin from Oklahoma State University, USA will join Second Conjoint RIKEN – ISM 2026 as a speaker and give a presentation entitled “Carotenoid Metabolism Regulates the Microbiota–Mitochondria Axis from Diet to Single-Cell Heterogeneity“.

Summary:

Dr. Dingbo Lin, the John and Sue Taylor Professor of Nutrition at Oklahoma State University, will present new evidence on how carotenoid metabolism shapes communication between the gut microbiome and mitochondrial function, with important implications for metabolic health and disease prevention.

Using mouse models with disrupted carotenoid metabolism via β-carotene oxygenase 2 (BCO2) knockout, Dr. Lin’s team has shown that astaxanthin supplementation significantly remodels gut microbiota composition, enriching beneficial species such as Akkermansia muciniphila, while reducing key inflammatory markers, including NLRP3 inflammasome activation. These microbial shifts are accompanied by mitochondrial remodeling, including altered respiratory supercomplex assembly and redox balance.

This presentation highlights the microbiota – mitochondria axis as a critical interface between nutrition and metabolic resilience, offering fresh perspectives on how dietary bioactives may be harnessed to prevent obesity, diabetes, and immune-related conditions.