Celebrating 150 years of the periodic table

For the 150th anniversary of the periodic table, we asked our scientists about their favourite element

Prof. Dr. med. Christian Bogdan, Chair of Microbiology and Infection Immunology, on oxygen:

“Oxygen fascinates me since my schooldays: the binding of oxygen during combustion processes, the hydrogen-oxygen reaction, the numerous colourful metal oxides and minerals, the formation of oxygen during the photosynthesis of plants or the use of oxygen for energy production within the respiratory chain of cellular power plants (mitochondria) have sparked my interest in this element. In my research work as a medical microbiologist and immunologist, I encounter oxygen in other, equally exciting functions: phagocytes use oxygen for the synthesis of molecules such as nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide or hypochlorite, which are of immense significance for fighting infections and immune regulation.”

Further interviews within the framework of the “150 Jahre Periodensystem” series as well as more exciting stories about FAU can be found on our website and the FAU Facebook page.