Status & Perspectives in Science & Education

57 56 Principal Scientist Profiles Michael Bauer Michael Bauer Principal Scientist Profiles PROFESSOR FOR ANESTHESIOLOGY & INTENSIVE CARE AT DEPT. OF ANESTHESIOLOGY & INTENSIV CARE MEDICINE Prof. Bauer is a member of several collaborative research groups in particular the LPI addressing the use of biophotonics for pathogen detection. They also study cellular functions in the continuum of infection, host response and the development of organ failure. He is chief-executive director of the Center for Sepsis Control Care (CSCC) at the Jena University Hospital. MICHAEL BAUER RESEARCH AREAS Prof. Bauer heads a group addressing molecular mechanisms and prevention of organ failure in life-threatening infections. Key components of this research reflect strategies for early detection of pathogens and the ensuing immune response. Research interests include: • Culture-independent pathogen detection (in cooperation with Prof. Popp) • In vivo visualization of cellular redox state and function(s), such as dye uptake and excretion • Nanomedicine • Plasmonics to describe the host reponse TEACHING FIELDS Prof. Bauer’s teaching covers aspects of pathophysiology and molecular aspects in critical care medicine with a focus on life-threatening infections: • Fundamentals of oxygen transport, energy metabolism and redox state • Systems biology of infection, sepsis and organ failure RESEARCH METHODS The laboratories led by Prof. Bauer offer a full range of molecular biology techniques with special emphasis on multi-omics and in vivo microscopy of solid organs, including: • In vivo (fluorescence) microscopy to study cellular redox state, function and integrity • Complementary application of Raman spectroscopy (in cooperation with Prof. Popp) RECENT RESEARCH RESULTS The group focuses on changes in metabolism, functionality and signal transduction in various tissue and cell types, such as macrophages and hepatocytes, that control progression or resolution of host defense and organ failure. Extensive characterization of the host response to bacterial and fungal infections, in particular through immunophenotyping and metabolomics, carried out by combination of biophotonic with ‚Omics‘-approaches and subsequent modeling is used to define subtypes of the host response to life-threatening infections. This approach allows us to apply innovative therapies, in particular nanostructured carriers for delivery of kinase inhibitors as cargos to restore central cellular signalling functions. MICRO-RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY TO STUDY HEPATIC METABOLISM AND EXCRETORY FUNCTION Concentrations of endogenous bilirubin were studied in the various regions of the hepatic acinus using micro-RAMAN spectroscopy (see figure) along with a detailed characterization of its export machinery and potential molecular regulators. Transcripts encoding the transporter were among those mRNAs related to biotransformation that showed a strong association with the predicted outcome of sepsis. As opposed to current thought, liver dysfunction was identified as an early and commonplace event in sepsis disease, in which signaling events amenable to drug therapy play a crucial role. Effector mechanisms of hepatic biotransformation can be visualized by Raman spectroscopy at the subacinar level. These observations carry important implications for the diagnosis, monitoring and pharmacotherapy of the critically ill. Contact: Phone: + 49 3641 9-323101 Email: michael.bauer@med.uni-jena.de [1] Press et al., Nature Commun. 5, 5565 (2014). [2] Press et al., NPG Asia Materials 9, e444 (2017). [3] Schaarschmidt et al., Theranostics 8, 3766 (2018).

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