Donnerstag, 09.01.2020

Lehre

Antrittsvorlesung Mikrobiologie: No sugar, no life

Sugar enriches our body, soul and bacteria - Antrittsvorlesung von Dr. Kensuke Shima am 11. Februar (17 Uhr s.t., Hörsaal AM 4)

After Dr. Kensuke Shima obtained his Ph.D. in Japan and trained as a postdoctoral researcher in US Food and drug Administration (FDA) in USA, he joined Prof. Dr. Jan Rupp´s laboratory (Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at University of Lübeck) in 2008. His main research interest is metabolism of host and pathogenic bacteria in infectious diseases. In his inaugural lecture, he focuses on host glucose metabolism under physiological and pathological conditions.

To support human health and physical activity in physiological condition, we take in foods containing a variety of nutrients. The three major nutrients are proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. Although all nutrients are essential for our body, carbohydrates, especially sugar are discussed often because they are linked to various diseases including diabetes.

Sugar (Sucrose) is composed of glucose and fructose. After glucose is uptaken into our body, it is used in glycolysis and in mitochondria, which are known as the powerhouses in order to produce energy. Fructose is much sweeter than glucose and can also enter the glycolytic pathway after enzymatically converting to a glycolytic intermediate. Importantly, glucose is an obligatory fuel for our brain, hence, deficiency of glucose causes mental problems such as attention deficit and a quick temper. On the other hand, while excess amount of glucose is stored as glycogen, there is a limitation to its storage in our body. As a result, excess glucose that has not been stored is transported to adipose tissue and turned into fat.

Bacterial infection is one pathological condition in our body. Since bacteria have smaller genome and limited numbers of genes compared to human beings, they manipulate host cell metabolism to acquire host derived glucose. One obligate intracellular bacteria, Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) causes the most frequent bacterial sexually transmitted disease. In human cells, intracellular C. trachomatis can induce hypoxia inducible factor 1, upregulating glucose transporter, thereby increasing host cell glycolysis. Hence, a host derived glycolytic intermediate can be used for chlamydial energy production. Furthermore, fructose also activates chlamydial glycolysis. Interestingly, a computerized approach revealed that C. trachomatis infection increases the risk of glucose metabolism disorder.

Taken together, it is important to control intake of sugar, but be aware of bacterial infections disturbing glucose metabolism.

Dr. Kensuke Shima schließt mit der Antrittsvorlesung seine Habilitation im Fachgebiet Mikrobiologie an der Universität zu Lübeck ab.

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