Senior Research Fellow
- About
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- Email Address
- a.kolb@abdn.ac.uk
- Telephone Number
- +44 (0)1224 438645
- School/Department
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Biography
2015-present: Senior Research Fellow, Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
2006-2015: Research Fellow, Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
2002-2005: Principal Investigator, Molecular Recognition Group, Hannah Research Institute, Ayr, Scotland, UK.
1997-2002: Investigator, Cell Physiology Group, Hannah Research Institute, Ayr, Scotland, UK.
1992-1997: Postdoc, Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of Würzburg, Germany.
1989-1992: PhD Student, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding, University of Munich, Germany.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Internal Memberships
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Postgraduate Research Coordinator, Rowett Institute
Chair, PGR Liaison Committee, School of Medicine Medical Sciences and Nutrition
- External Memberships
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Associate Fellow of The Higher Education Academy
- Research
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Research Overview
My research interest covers two overlapping research areas, namely:
- Impact of secondary plant metabolites and toxins on metabolic health regulation, mediated by the gut microbiome and bile acid
- Impact of nutrition in early life stages on adult metabolic health and aging.
Research Areas
Accepting PhDs
I am currently accepting PhDs in Nutrition and Health.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.
Current Research
Dietary and environmental impacts on metabolic health
The gut represents the main interface with which mammals interact with their environment. Bile acids are essential for the emulsification and uptake of dietary lipids and lipid-soluble vitamins. However, bile acids also act as signaling molecules via several nuclear receptors and G-protein coupled receptors. Many of these signaling events take place in the gut, but bile acids also circulate in serum and can also signal in other organs. Bile acids are synthesized in the liver, secreted via the gall bladder, and chemically modified by the gut microbiome to give rise to more than 20 different bile acids. We have found that dietary components can substantially alter the composition of bile acids in the gut and in serum. Environmental toxins (including mycotoxins and synthetic plastic compounds) can interact with bile acid signaling (directly or via the modulation of the microbiome) and derail the metabolic equilibrium. We are investigating the molecular mechanisms which are critical for bile acid signaling and how dietary components and toxins can influence these events. We apply this knowledge to develop cell-based assay systems to measure toxin concentrations in environmental and food samples.
Early life nutrition and metabolic health outcomes
Nutrition during early phases of life can have profound impacts on metabolic health in adulthood. Intrauterine growth restriction has been shown to alter body composition and epigenetic processes. This leads to increased susceptibility to obesity, type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease and shortened lifespan. Attenuated growth after birth, in contrast, is protective against aspects of the metabolic syndrome and extends lifespan. We are using in vitro and in vivo models of post-natal attenuated growth to study the molecular events which underlie the improved metabolic health outcomes and delayed aging. We apply this knowledge to develop pharmacological interventions to improve metabolic health.
Supervision
My current supervision areas are: Nutrition and Health.
Current PhD students:
Khulod Hasaballah
Amane Alaroud
Amanda Mathieson
Brendan Kesler
Past PhD students:
Alina Zitskaja (2016-2021)
Patrikas Pultinevicius (2015-2020)
Jennifer Harbottle (2013-2017)
Christopher Knowles (2012-2016)
- Teaching
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Teaching Responsibilities
ME2511: Student Selected Components Year 1, course coordinator
SM2501: Research Skills for Medical Sciences
SM2001: Foundation Skills for Medical Sciences
GN3502: Genetics
Non-course Teaching Responsibilities
Supervision of Honours and MSc projects
- Publications
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Prolactin inhibits cell loss and decreases matrix metalloproteinase expression in the involuting mouse mammary gland but fails to prevent cell loss in the mammary glands of mice expressing IGFBP-5 as a mammary transgene
Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, vol. 36, no. 3, pp. 435-448Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1677/jme.1.01873
A virus-neutralising antibody is not cytotoxic in vitro
Molecular Immunology, vol. 43, no. 6, pp. 677-689Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molimm.2005.04.008
Studying human pathogens in animal models: Fine Tuning the Humanized Mouse
Transgenic Research, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 803-806Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-005-1676-y
Regulation of genes encoding proteolytic enzymes during mammary gland development
Journal of Dairy Research, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 433-441Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022029905001202
Targeted modification of mammalian genomes
Biotechnology Advances, vol. 23, no. 7-8, pp. 431-469Contributions to Journals: Literature Reviews- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2005.03.003
Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins initiate cell death and extracellular matrix remodeling in the mammary gland
DOMESTIC ANIMAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 274-282Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.domaniend.2005.02.021
Site-directed genome modification: derivatives of DNA-modifying enzymes as targeting tools
Trends in Biotechnology, vol. 23, no. 8, pp. 407-419Contributions to Journals: Literature Reviews- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2005.06.009
Site-directed genome modification: nucleic acid and protein modules for targeted integration and gene correction
Trends in Biotechnology, vol. 23, no. 8, pp. 399-406Contributions to Journals: Literature Reviews- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2005.06.005
Hormone and growth factor regulation of tissue remodeling in the mammary gland
Journal of Dairy Science, vol. 88, pp. 208Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe first intron of the murine beta-casein gene contains a functional promoter
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, vol. 306, no. 4, pp. 1099-1105Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-291X(03)01104-5