Torbjörn Bengtsson

About Torbjörn Bengtsson

Torbjörn Bengtsson is a Professor in Medical cell biology at Department of Medical sciences, Örebro University. He defended his thesis in 1990 at the Department of Medical microbiology, Linköping University. The thesis was about the regulation and importance of the cytoskeleton in neutrophil granulocytes and inflammatory processes. In 1995 Torbjörn was appointed as docent (Associate Professor) in Medical microbiology and 2003 he became professor in Inflammatory research at Linköping university.

The main research focus of Torbjörn Bengtsson is inflammatory and immune processes of host-microbe interactions. How infections cause diseases that are not normally classified as infectious diseases has been of interest for a long time, for example how bacteria-platelet interaction contributes to atherosclerosis. For many years his group has studied the interplay between periodontal pathogens and different human cells in order to understand the pathogenesis of periodontitis and its association with systemic disorders such as cardiovascular disease, and since 2020 also Alzheimers disease. Together with a competent and dynamic research group, the research today focuses on identifying and characterizing novel antimicrobial agents, primarily bacteria-derived antibacterial peptides (bacteriocins), in the prevention and treatment of severe bacterial infections, e.g. caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA. In collaboration with basic and clinical researchers at Linköping and Malmö University and several industrial partners, the group is developing novel tools, based and plastic antibodies and nanoplasmonic sensors, for diagnosis of infectious diseases. Furthermore, a newly started multidisciplinary research project (HEALiX), with researchers from the Universities of Örebro, Linköping and Luleå, and two companies, aims to develop novel innovative wound dressings including cellulose membranes, antibacterial peptides and sensors for efficient and cost-effective treatment of acute and chronic wound infections. Bengtsson has authored around 100 scientific articles and has been main supervisor for 13 PhD students, please see below.

In four decades Torbjörn Bengtsson has taught and had the responsibility for courses in biology, biomedicine and medicine, especially in the subjects of cell biology and microbiology. For five years he was head of the Biomedical research school at Linköping University. Torbjörn has been responsible for the two first semesters and for Biomedicine at the Medical School of Örebro University.

Supervision of PhD students
Sravya Nakka (2016) (Inst. Medicinska vetenskaper, ÖU) “Development of novel tools for prevention and diagnosis of Porphyromonas gingivalis infection and periodontitis” (ÖU, nr 151, 2016).

Kartheyaene Jayaprakash (2016) (Inst. Medicinska vetenskaper, ÖU) “The interplay between leukocytes and pathogens in periodontitis and its role in cardiovascular disease” (ÖU, nr 142, 2016).

Boxi Zhang (2015) (Inst. Hälsa och medicin, ÖU) “Modulation of gene expression in human aortic smooth muscle cells by Porphyromonas gingivalis – a possible association between periodontitis and atherosclerosis” (ÖU, nr 127, 2015).

Kristin Engström-Klarström (2015) (Inst. Hälsa och medicin, ÖU) ”Platelets as immune cells in sensing bacterial infection” (ÖU, nr 116, 2015).

Elenor Palm (2015) (Inst. Hälsa och medicin, ÖU) “Inflammatory responses of gingival fibroblasts in the interaction with the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis” (ÖU, nr 113, 2015).

Johanna Lönn (2013) (Klinisk Medicin, ÖU) ”The role of periodontitis and hepatocyte growth factor in systemic inflammation” (ÖU, nr 83, 2013).

Ann-Charlotte Svensson (2010) (avd Farmakologi, HU, LiU) 2010 ”The mechanisms of platelet-mediated regulation of inflammatory and proliferative processes of atherosclerosis” (LiU nr 1196, 2010).

Caroline Skoglund (2010) (avd Farmakologi, HU, LiU) ”Platelets in Inflammation – role of C1q, C- reactive protein and toll-like receptors”. (LiU nr 1176, 2010).

Hanna Kälvegren (2007) (avd f Farmakologi, HU, LiU): ”The role of Chlamydia pneumoniae-induced platelet activation in cardiovascular disease”(LiU, nr 995, 2007)

Jonas Wetterö (2002) (avd f Medicinsk mikrobiologi, HU/avd f Tillämpad fysik, LiU) "Acute inflammation on model biomaterial surfaces- studies on proteins, neutrophils and platelets" (LiU, Studies in Science and Technology, nr 769, 2002)

Ghada Nimeri (1998) (avd. f Marin och allmän mikrobiologi; Biointerface and Biofouling Laboratory, GU): ”Neutrophil biology on artificial surfaces. The role of adsorbed blood plasma proteins and platelets” (GU, 1998)

Magnus Grenegård (1998) (avd f Farmakologi, HU, LiU) : ”Platelets: intracellular signalling and cellular interaction” (LiU, nr 569, 1998)

Stefan Zalavary (1997) (avd. f Medicinsk mikrobiologi, HU, LiU): ”Adenosine regulation of neutrophil function” (LiU nr 535, 1997)

Publications from 2007 onwards are listed below.