Japan's probe can go deeper

The discovery of deep-sea bacteria useful for treatment of atopic dermatitis (Japan Times Online, June 2003) was made by a group of researchers at the state-run Japan Marine Science and Technology Center. The bacteria were extracted from soil collected by the center's remote-operated deep-sea research vehicle Kaiko from 10,897 meters below sea level in waters 300 km southwest of Guam in March 1996

"Only Japan has deep-sea probes that can submerge to 10,000 meters," said Susumu Ito, the center's director. "It is difficult to find new kinds of useful bacteria on land. But deep in the sea, a surprising amount can be found."

The Kaiko, consisting of a 5.2-meter launcher and a 3.1-meter vehicle, had the world's deepest diving capability, to a maximum 11,000 meters.

The vehicle component, which carries five television cameras and one photo camera, was lost in late May during an underwater mission at Cape Muroto off southern Shikoku.