Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
My main research interests are in the areas of insulin and exercise signalling, insulin resistance and glucose metabolism in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. My research brings new cellular and molecular approaches to study the pathophysiology of chronic metabolic conditions and helps understand the impact of nutritional and physiological changes on the development and treatments of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
For several years now, I have investigated the mechanism of glucose transporter (GLUT4) vesicle trafficking. Insulin signalling plays a pivotal role in this process. Therefore, mapping GLUT4 trafficking is critical to understanding the cellular defects in diabetes. The identification of the key molecules linking insulin signalling and GLUT4 trafficking is a major challenge in the GLUT4 research field. The reason this challenge remains is mainly due to the complexity of the insulin-signalling cascade. The next major challenge in this area is to identify the small GTPases of the Rab family of proteins responsible for insulin induced GLUT4 translocation. This is the aim of my current research grant from the MRC.
To achieve this aim I am using a cross-disciplinary approach, combining cellular and molecular studies with a human intervention study in order to translate the molecular findings into whole body physiological functions. We are using cellular models of adipose cells to investigate the molecular interactions between Rab3 and other proteins in the cell that act as links between insulin action at its receptor and the GLUT4 transporter. We will investigate how these interactions are affected by treatment with proinflammatory cytokines, including TNFα, or other molecules known to induce the state of insulin resistance. These experiments will allow us to understand the mechanisms of action of Rab3 in the context of the development of the insulin-resistant state. We will also investigate in humans, undergoing a diet and exercise intervention programme, whether Rab3 is affected in a manner that reveals underlying mechanisms involved in the control of insulin sensitivity in adipose tissues and skeletal muscles. The outcome from this project will have important implications for our understanding of the mechanisms of the development of peripheral tissues insulin resistance and for the development of new, targeted therapies for treatment of insulin resistant subjects and people with type 2 diabetes. This study will also be a springboard to inform further investigations into the development of insulin resistance and the cross-talk between chronic inflammation, obesity and the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Willing to supervise doctoral students
Identification of new biomarkers of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Development of human skeletal muscle satellite cell model for in vitro assessment of metabolic health.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, Université Grenoble Alpes
Award Date: 1 Jan 1996
Keywords
- QP Physiology
- Glucose metabolism
- glucose transporters
- Diabetes
- Insulin signalling
- Insulin resistance
- Rab GTPases
- membrane trafficking
- skeletal muscle
- adipocyes
- obesity
- Type 2 diabetes
- GLUT4
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
- Tissue culture
- exocytosis
- endocytosis
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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ESTABLISHING THE ROLE OF ADIPOSE TISSUE INFLAMMATION IN THE REGULATION OF MUSCLE MASS IN OLDER PEOPLE
Thompson, D. (PI) & Koumanov, F. (CoI)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
1/07/24 → 30/06/27
Project: Research council
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Multi User High-Content Confocal Microscope
Sero, J. (PI), Cevik, V. (CoI), Gurevich, D. (CoI), Jungwirth, U. (CoI), Kelsh, R. (CoI), Koumanov, F. (CoI), Kyprianou, A. (CoI), Laabei, M. (CoI), Licchesi, J. (CoI), Murrell, A. (CoI), Pascu, S. (CoI), Turner, L. (CoI), Walko, G. (CoI), Ward, A. (CoI), Ward, S. (CoI), Williams, R. (CoI) & Zachariadis, M. (CoI)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
1/08/22 → 31/07/23
Project: Research council
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Endosomal sorting complexes in insulin-stimulated GLUT4 recycling
Koumanov, F. (PI) & Whitley, P. (CoI)
1/09/19 → 28/02/21
Project: UK charity
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Imprinted genes defining a novel mammalian growth regulatory axis
Koumanov, F. (PI)
28/05/19 → 26/08/22
Project: Research council
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Role of Rab3 in Peripheral Tissue Insulin Resistance
Koumanov, F. (PI), Betts, J. (CoI), Gonzalez, J. (CoI), Thompson, D. (CoI) & Whitley, P. (CoI)
1/12/16 → 31/07/20
Project: Research council
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Effects of physical form of β-lactoglobulin and calcium ingestion on GLP-1 secretion, gastric emptying and energy intake in humans: a randomised crossover trial
Watkins, J., Smith, H., Hengist, A., Nielsen, S. B., Mikkelsen, U. R., Saunders, J., Koumanov, F., Betts, J. A. & Gonzalez, J. T., 28 May 2024, In: British Journal of Nutrition. 131, 10, p. 1730-1739 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Ketogenic diet but not free-sugar restriction alters glucose tolerance, lipid metabolism, peripheral tissue phenotype and gut microbiome: RCT
Hengist, A., Davies, R., Walhin, J.-P., Buniam, J., Merrell, L., Rogers, L., Bradshaw, L., Moreno-Cabañas, A., Rogers, P. J., Brunstrom, J. M., Hodson, L., van Loon, L. J. C., Barton, W., O'Donovan, C., Crispie, F., O'Sullivan, O., Cotter, P., Proctor, K., Betts, J. & Koumanov, F. & 2 others, , 20 Aug 2024, In: Cell Reports Medicine. 5, 8, 101667.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Myths and Methodologies: Standardisation in Human Physiology Research-Should We Control the Controllables?
Merrell, L. H., Perkin, O. J., Bradshaw, L., Collier-Bain, H. D., Collins, A. J., Davies, S., Eddy, R., Hickman, J. A., Nicholas, A. P., Rees, D., Spellanzon, B., James, L. J., McKay, A. K. A., Smith, H. A., Turner, J. E., Koumanov, F., Maher, J., Thompson, D., Gonzalez, J. T. & Betts, J. A., 1 Jul 2024, In: International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism. 34, 4, p. 242-250 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (SciVal) -
Thermal stabilisation of lysozyme through ensilication
Abdulkareem, R., Doekhie, A., Fotaki, N., Koumanov, F., Dodson, C. & Sartbaeva, A., 30 Sept 2024, In: Molecules. 29, 17, 4207.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion in people with versus without type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies
Watkins, J. D., Carter, S., Atkinson, G., Koumanov, F., Betts, J. A., Holst, J. & Gonzalez, J. T., 31 Mar 2023, In: Metabolism. 140, 155375.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Citations (SciVal)23 Downloads (Pure)
Datasets
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Datset for "Resting skeletal muscle ATGL and CPT1B are associated with peak fat oxidation rates in men and women but do not explain observed sex differences"
Chrzanowski-Smith, O. (Creator), Edinburgh, R. (Creator), Gonzalez, J. (Creator), Thomas, M. (Data Collector), Smith, E. (Data Collector), Walhin, J.-P. (Data Collector), Koumanov, F. (Data Collector), Williams, S. (Supervisor) & Betts, J. (Supervisor), University of Bath, 12 Mar 2021
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00729
Dataset
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Feeding influences adipose tissue responses to exercise in overweight men
Chen, Y.-C. (Creator), Travers, R. (Researcher), Walhin, J.-P. (Researcher), Gonzalez, J. (Researcher), Koumanov, F. (Researcher), Betts, J. (Researcher) & Thompson, D. (Project Leader), University of Bath, 2017
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00361
Dataset
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Dataset for "Ensilicated tetanus antigen retains immunogenicity: in vivo study and time-resolved SAXS characterization"
Doekhie, A. (Creator), Sartbaeva, A. (Creator), Koumanov, F. (Creator), Van Den Elsen, J. (Creator), Edler, K. (Creator) & Wells, S. (Creator), University of Bath, 8 Jun 2020
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00771
Dataset
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Dataset for "Thermal resilience of ensilicated lysozyme via calorimetric and in vivo analysis"
Doekhie, A. (Creator), Slade, M. (Creator), Castaing, R. (Creator), Edler, K. (Creator), Koumanov, F. (Creator), Van Den Elsen, J. (Creator), Marchbank, K. (Creator) & Sartbaeva, A. (Creator), University of Bath, 12 Aug 2020
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00895
Dataset
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Dataset for "Physiochemical Changes to TTCF Ensilication Investigated Using Time-Resolved SAXS"
Doekhie, A. (Creator), Dattani, R. (Data Collector), Chen, Y.-C. (Project Member), Koumanov, F. (Project Member), Edler, K. (Project Member), Van Den Elsen, J. (Project Member) & Sartbaeva, A. (Project Manager), University of Bath, 5 Aug 2021
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-01058
Dataset