The School of Biological Sciences Spring 2025 MBM Seminar Series presents Dr. Jasmin Camacho

Abstract: Nectar-feeding bats defy mammalian norms by thriving on sugar-rich diets that would typically induce glucotoxicity in other mammals. Consuming up to 1.5 times their body weight in nectar daily, they offer a natural model for studying metabolic resilience. My research explores their adaptations in digestive physiology, glucose regulation, and energy metabolism that enable them to sustain extreme hyperglycemia while maintaining metabolic health. In Part 1, I will discuss the anatomical and cellular adaptations in the small intestine that support their capacity for extreme hyperglycemia. Nectar-feeding bats exhibit an elongated duodenum and increased microvilli absorption, enhancing glucose uptake. Positive selection in glucose transporters, particularly GLUT2, which shows elevated expression in the duodenum, underscores the gut’s role in regulating blood glucose levels and supporting a sugar-rich diet. Part 2 focuses on glucose homeostasis and muscle-specific adaptations. Using metabolomics, proteomics, and RNA sequencing, I identified altered insulin signaling and energy storage strategies that promote glucose utilization for immediate energy rather than glycogen synthesis. Exercise-mediated glucose homeostasis also supports their high-energy demands during flight. In Part 3, I will present molecular tools developed for this research, including stable cell lines (fibroblast and muscle), a lipidomics and metabolomics platform, and a single-cell energy metabolism profiling assay using flow cytometry. These resources reveal how bats utilize glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and amino acid oxidation for ATP production. Ultimately, I will discuss how these findings pave the way for uncovering novel principles of metabolic adaptation, enhancing our understanding of nectar-feeding bats and offering potential insights into strategies for managing human metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity.