Featured Researcher: Kiyoko Takemiya

Kiyoko Takemiya, MD, PhD (Emory University Division of Cardiology) joined Emory from Kurume University in Japan. She recently received an American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant to support her research on the detection of bacterial infections associated with medical devices. Currently, the diagnosis of device infection is made based on symptoms or clinical signs, and when it is diagnosed, the infection has already expanded and damaged the surrounding tissue. Dr. Takemiya’s work aims to detect infection in the very early stages with no clinical signs or symptoms, which will help to improve the prognosis of patients and to reduce unnecessary surgeries.

To detect small amount of bacteria, Dr. Takemiya’s team focused on the differences in sugar metabolism between bacteria and mammalian cells. Maltodextrin, a kind of sugar, is used by bacteria as a major energy source through the “maltodextrin transporter,” but cannot be internalized by mammalian cells. The maltodextrin transporter is large enough to pass an imaging probe conjugated with maltodextrin or its analogue, leading to accumulation in bacteria, and allowing sensitive and specific detection of bacteria. Dr. Takemiya uses rat models to test these maltodextrin and maltodextrin analogue-based imaging probes for near infrared imaging and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to detect the existence of bacteria. In her free time, Dr. Takemiya enjoys cooking, reading, playing with jigsaw puzzles, and crafting.

Related Links

• Nominate a Featured Researcher
• Dr. Takemiya’s faculty bio
• Emory Department of Medicine Research Newsletter (“What’s Up”)
• Emory’s J. Willis Hurst Internal Medicine Residency Program
• Emory Department of Medicine – Office of Research
• Emory Department of Medicine – Office of Education
• Emory University Department of Medicine
• Emory University Division of Cardiology

If you are interested in investing in research, clinical care, and/or education within the Emory University Division of Cardiology, please visit our website to learn how you can help.