Photo= President Yamagiwa lifts a forkful of cheesecake, made with the lactobacillus newly discovered in gorillas, to his mouth (Kyoto University, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto)

A collaborative research group of Juichi Yamagiwa, president of Kyoto University, discovered a new type of lactobacillus in the intestines of gorillas. Using it, Kyoto University Coop has developed a new cheesecake called "Gorilla Fromage" and made the announcement on August 4. Promoting the cake, President Yamagiwa said, "I want people to eat the cake and let their thoughts go to wild animals."

Student staff of Kyoto University Coop have been planning new Kyoto University items in conjunction with Juichi Yamagiwa assuming the presidency last autumn. In association with Yamagiwa's gorilla research, his research partner Kazunari Ushida, a professor of Kyoto Prefectural University, and others tried making a cake with a newly-discovered lactobacillus named "Lactobacillus gorillae," which was found in gorillas in Africa and Kyoto City Zoo.

The cake is made using yogurt fermented with the newly discovered lactobacillus. This lactobacillus has genes that create a distinctive taste which is said to give the cake a deeper flavor. The cheesecake was sold for three days starting on August 6 at the Yoshida Campus of Kyoto University in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. "Gorilla Fromage" will be considered as a regular item depending on how well it is received