Christian Puta

After completing the diploma in sports science with a focus on prevention and rehabilitation, he received his doctorate in 2007 at the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

In 2017, the same faculty awarded the venia legendi for sports medicine and health promotion. The dissertation and the habilitation were awarded the DOSB Science Prize, the third prize and the second prize. As a post-doc I spent a month at the Uit The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø.

In 2023 I received an apl. Professor of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

I am currently a member of the scientific advisory board of the Federal Institute of Sport Science (since 2018) and university director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Prevention of Occupational Diseases of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena (since 2019).
Since 2023 I have been a member of the Center of Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC) at the University Hospital Jena.

Since 2024 I have been also affiliated at the Department for Internal Medicine IV (Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany

• Immunobiology and physiology of physical activity
• Post-acute infection syndromes: exercise intolerance and post-exertional malaise
• Clinical Sciences
• Computational Immunobiology
• Pain and sensory-motor control

Selected publications

Haunhorst S, Dudziak D, Scheibenbogen C, Seifert M, Sotzny F, Finke C, Behrends U, Aden K, Schreiber S, Brockmann D, Burggraf P, Bloch W, Ellert C, Ramoji A, Popp J, Reuken P, Walter M, Stallmach A, Puta C (2024). Towards an understanding of physical activity-induced post-exertional malaise: Insights into microvascular alterations and immunometabolic interactions in post-COVID condition and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Infection.
doi:10.1007/s15010-024-02386-8Externer Link

Stallmach A, Quickert S, Puta C, Reuken PA (2024). The gastrointestinal microbiota in the development of ME/CFS: a critical view and potential perspectives. Frontiers in Immunology 15:1352744.
doi:10.3389/fimmu.2024.1352744Externer Link

Kullik L, Stork M, Kellmann M, Puta C, Jakowski S (2024). Impact of sleep-wake patterns and daily rhythms including training on midsleep time in adolescent basketball players during the COVID-19 pandemic. German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research.
doi:10.1007/s12662-023-00933-3Externer Link

Quickert S, Wagner F, Finke K, Katzer K, Lemhöfer C, Puta C, Stengel S, Scherag A, Lewejohann JC, Stallmach A, Reuken PA (2024). MASLD is a common comorbidity in post-COVID-19 and associated with severe COVID-19 courses and neurocognitive impairments. Z Gastroenterol 62(09): e668.
doi:10.1055/s-0044-1789803Externer Link

Reuken PA, Besteher B, Bleidorn J, Brockmann D, Finke K, Freytag A, Lehmann-Pohl K, Lemhöfer C, Mikolajczyk R, Puta C, Scherag A, Wiedermann M, Zippel-Schultz B, Stallmach A (2024). Web-based telemedicine approach for treatment of post-COVID-19 in Thuringia (WATCH). DIGITAL HEALTH 10.
doi:10.1177/20552076241291748Externer Link

Ringleb M, Javelle F, Haunhorst S, Bloch W, Fennen L, Baumgart S, Drube S, Reuken PA, Pletz MW, Wagner H, Gabriel HHW, Puta C (2024). Beyond muscles: Investigating immunoregulatory myokines in acute resistance exercise – A systematic review and meta-analysis. The FASEB Journal 38(7): e23596.
doi:10.1096/fj.202301619RExterner Link

Christ T, Ringleb M, Haunhorst S, Fennen L, Jordan PM, Wagner H, Puta C (2024). The acute effects of pre- and mid-exercise carbohydrate ingestion on the immunoregulatory stress hormone release in experienced endurance athletes—a systematic review. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living 6:1264814.
doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2024.1264814Externer Link    

Platz T, Abel U, Behrends U, Berlit P, Diem L, Ellert C, Fickenscher H, Guha M, Koch M, Köllner V, Krakow K, Kramer A, Koczulla R, Moser H, Noth R, Pohl M, Puta C, Reißhauer A, Schlitt A, Sigrist T, de Zeeuw J, Zwick RH (2023). S2k-LL COVID-19 and (early) rehabilitation. In: GERMAN SOCIETY FOR NEUROREHABILITATION E.V. (DGNR) (ed.), Guidelines for Neurorehabilitation. Edition/Version Date: 4.0 (3. Update).
Available at: https://www.awmf.org/leitlinien/detail/ll/080-008.htmlExterner Link

Haunhorst S, Bloch W, Drube S, Baumgart S, Pletz MW, Gabriel HHW, Puta C (2023). Current return to sports recommendations after non-severe COVID-19 from an exercise immunology perspective: A scoping review. Sport Orthopaedics and Traumatology.
doi.org/10.1016/j.orthtr.2023.11.003Externer Link

Schrenk SJ, Brodoehl S, Flor S, Frahm C, Gaser C, Hamdan RA, Herbsleb M, Kaleta C, Kattlun F, Müller HJ, Puta C, Radscheidt M, Ruiz-Rizzo AL, Saraei T, Scherag A, Steidten T, Witte OW, Finke K (2023). Impact of an online guided physical activity training on cognition and gut-brain axis interactions in older adults: protocol of a randomized controlled trial. Front Aging Neurosci, 15:1254194.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1254194Externer Link

Steiner S, Fehrer A, Hoheisel F, Schoening S, Aschenbrenner A, Babel N, Bellmann-Strobl J, Finke C, Fluge Ø, Froehlich L, Goebel A, Grande B, Haas JP, Hohberger B, Jason LA, Komaroff AL, Lacerda E, Liebl M, Maier A, Mella O, Nacul L, Paul F, Prusty BK, Puta C, Riemekasten G, Ries W, Rowe PC, Sawitzki B, Shoenfeld Y, Schultze JL, Seifert M, Sepúlveda N, Sotzny F, Stein E, Stingl M, Ufer F, Veauthier C, Westermeier F, Wirth K, Wolfarth B, Zalewski P, Behrends U, Scheibenbogen C (2023). Understanding, diagnosing, and treating Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome - State of the art: Report of the 2nd international meeting at the Charité fatigue center.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autrev.2023.103452Externer Link

Reuken PA, Bester B, Finke K, Fischer A, Holl A, Katzer K, Lehmann-Pohl K, Lemhöfer C, Nowka M, Puta C, Walter M, Weißenborn C, Stallmach A (2023). Long-term course of neuropsychological symptoms and ME/CFS after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a prospective registry study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, 16.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-023-01661-3Externer Link

Teich P, Fühner T, Bähr F, Puta C, Granacher U, Kliegl R (2023). Covid Pandemic Effects on the Physical Fitness of Primary School Children: Results of the German EMOTIKON Project. Sports Med Open, 9(1): 77.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-023-00624-1Externer Link

Palmowski J, Kohnhorst S, Bauer P, Puta C, Haunhorst S, Gebhardt K, Reichel T, Keller C, Huber M, Raifer H, Krüger K (2023). T-cell-derived TNF-α and a cluster of immunological parameters from plasma allow a separation between SARS-CoV-2 convalescent versus vaccinated elite athletes. Front Physiol, 14: 1203983.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1203983Externer Link

Lemhöfer C, Bahmer T, Baumbach P, Besteher B, Boekel A, Finke K, Katzer K, Lehmann-Pohl K, Lewejohann JC, Loudovici-Krug D, Nowka M, Puta C, Quickert S, Reuken PA, Walter M, Stallmach A (2023). Variations and Predictors of Post-COVID Syndrome Severity in Patients Attending a Post-COVID Outpatient Clinic. J Clin Med, 12(12): 4013.
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12124013Externer Link

Haunhorst S, Bloch W, Puta C (2023). Impact Of Long Covid On Recovery In Sport and Exercise. The Importance of Recovery for Physical and Mental Health, 1st Edition, Routledge: 203-222.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003250647-12Externer Link

Markov A, Bussweiler J, Helm N, Arntz F, Steidten T, Krohm L, Sacot A, Baumert P, Puta C, Chaabene H (2023). Acute effects of concurrent muscle power and sport-specific endurance exercises on markers of immunological stress response and measures of muscular fitness in highly trained young male athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol, 123(5): 1015-1026.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-022-05126-8Externer Link

Giszas B, Trommer S, Schüßler N, Rodewald A, Bester B, Bleidorn J, Dickmann P, Finke K, Katzer K, Lehmann-Pohl K, Lemhöfer C, Pletz MW, Puta C, Quickert S, Walter M, Stallmach A, Reuken PA (2023). Post-COVID-19 condition is not only a question of persistent symptoms: structured screening including health-related quality of life reveals two separate clusters of post-COVID. Infection, 51(2): 365-377.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-022-01886-9Externer Link

Haunhorst S, Bloch W, Wagner H, Ellert C, Krüger K, Vilser DC, Finke K, Reuken P, Pletz MW, Stallmach A, Puta C (2022). Long COVID: a narrative review of the clinical aftermaths of COVID-19 with a focus on the putative pathophysiology and aspects of physical activity. Oxford Open Immunology 3(1): iqac006.
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfimm/iqac006Externer Link

Haunhorst S, Bloch W, Javelle F, Krüger K, Baumgart S, Drube S, Lemhöfer C, Reuken P, Stallmach A, Müller M, Zielinski CE, Pletz MW, Gabriel HHW, Puta C (2022). A scoping review of regulatory T cell dynamics in convalescent COVID-19 patients - indications for their potential involvement in the development of Long COVID? Front Immunol, 13: 1070994.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1070994Externer Link

Kullik L, Kellmann M, Puta C, Jakowski S (2022). Sleep Behavior and Training Load In Adolescent Elite Basketball Players During Covid-19 Pandemic Development. Chronobiology International, 39(11): 1454-1464.
https://doi.org/10.1080/07420528.2022.2117051Externer Link

Stallmach A, Katzer K, Besteher B, Finke K, Giszas B, Gremme Y, Abou Hamdan R, Lehmann-Pohl K, Legen M, Lewejohann JC, Machnik M, Moshmosh Alsabbagh M, Nardini L, Puta C, Stallmach Z, Reuken PA (2022). Mobile primary care for post-COVID patients in rural areas: a proof-of-concept study. Infection, 13: 1-9.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-022-01881-0Externer Link

Haunhorst S, Bloch W, Ringleb M, Fennen L, Wagner H, Gabriel HHW, Puta C (2022). Acute effects of heavy resistance exercise on biomarkers of neuroendocrine-immune regulation in healthy adults: a systematic review. Exerc Immunol Rev, 28: 36-52.
http://eir-isei.de/2022/eir-2022-036-article.pdfExterner Link

Haunhorst S, Bloch W, Ellert C, Puta C (2022). Recovered, but not healthy - Long Covid and the effects on physical performance. Sportphysio, 10(03): 111-116.
https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1841-8209Externer Link

Puta C, Haunhorst S, Bloch W (2021). Post-acute Covid-19 ("Long-covid"): Persistent symptoms, possible causes and symptom-driven post-acute Covid-19 management to regain physical performance (Scoping Review). Sports Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 37(3): 214-225.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orthtr.08.06.006Externer Link

Steidten T, Baumbach P, May R, Gabriel B, Herbsleb M, Markov A, Granacher U, Kellmann M, Bloch W, Gabriel HHW, Puta C (2021). Overnight Immune Regulation and Subjective Measures of Sleep: A Three Night Observational Study in Adolescent Track and Field Athletes. Front Sports Act Living, 3: 689805.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.689805Externer Link

Lesinski M, Schmelcher A, Herz M, Puta C, Gabriel H, Arampatzis A, Laube G, Büsch D, Granacher U (2020). Maturation-, age- and sex-specific anthropometric and physical fitness percentiles of German elite young athletes. PLoS One, 15(8): e0237423.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237423Externer Link

Prieske O, Chaabene H, Puta C, Behm DG, Büsch D, Granacher U (2019). Effects of Drop Height on Jump Performance in Male and Female Elite Adolescent Handball Players. Int J Sports Physiol Perform, 14(5): 674-680.
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2018-0482Externer Link

Other publications

Google ScholarExterner Link
ORCIDExterner Link
ResearchGateExterner Link

• 3rd Long COVID Congress in Berlin: A topic with a need for action and researchExterner Link
     
• Strength training in junior performance sports (KINGS study)Externer Link
    
• KINGS Practice Manual 2.0 as EbookExterner Link
     
• What can help against Long Covid. Deutschlandfunk Kultur: Sport and SportExterner Link
    
• Stress in the course of the disease: Average resting pulse increases with the number of symptomsExterner Link

The research of Christian Puta Lab of Immunobiology and Physiology of Exercise  focused on exercise-induced and infection-induced immunological stress regulation and their interaction.

Christian Puta has been apl since 08/2023. Professor of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, at the Institute of Sports Science of the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena. He heads a research laboratory for Immunobiology and physiology of exercise with a focus on acute and post-acute effects of stress-induced and infection-based immunological stress regulation in health and disease.

Focus Exercise Immunology and Physiology:
Consortium partners in Jena Long-COVID project (WATCH)

The collaborative research project "WATCH-Studie" approved since 11/18/2022 (total volume: approx. 5.8 million €, funded by the Joint Federal Committee of Health Insurance Funds, Physicians and Clinics) is researching the development of mobile long-term therapy close to home for Post-COVID-19 (Long-COVID) in Thuringia. The overall management is the responsibility of Prof. Andreas Stallmach (University Hospital Jena). Puta from the Institute of Sports Science, Chair of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, is a consortium partner of the "WATCH Study" with its focus on Exercise Immunology and Health and a member of the Post-COVID Center and the Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC). His substantive focus in the WATCH study is the intervention control of physical intolerance by means of so-called wearable integrated diagnostics. The working group around Puta cooperates closely beyond Jena with Prof. Dirk Brockmann (Humboldt University of Berlin) in the field of "Complex Systems". In the field of Exercise Immunology and Health, Puta works in a fundamental-oriented manner on "post-acute infection syndromes". The analysis of regulatory T-cell dynamics plays a central role and is being developed in cooperation with Dr. Sabine Baumgart and Dr. Sebastian Drube (Institute of Immunology), the Institute of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene (Prof. Mathias Pletz) and the Department of Internal Medicine IV (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectiology, Interdisciplinary Endoscopy; Prof. Stallmach) processed.

Links:

• Post-COVID-Center https://www.uniklinikum-jena.de/cscc/Post_COVID_Zentrum.htmlExterner Link
• Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC) https://www.uniklinikum-jena.de/cscc/Externer Link
• Corona data donation https://corona-datenspende.de/science/Externer Link

Strength training in after-grow performance sports (KINGS)

Prof. Puta is the university spokesperson for the Competence Center for Interdisciplinary Prevention of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Berufsgenossenschaft Lebensmittel und Gastgewerbe (KIP)

Computational models of exercise-induced and infection-based immunological stress regulation at the Center for Interdisciplinary Prevention of Diseases Related to Professional Activities
Neuroimmunomechanics: Identifying pathways of neuro-immune interaction in response to movement

• What is PExOL?
• How is PExOL structured?
• What 7 key questions (P1- P7) are answered when applying PExOL?
  P1: Phenomenon in everyday life?
  P2: Problem of lifestyle?
  P3: Physiological background?
  P4: (Patho-)Physiological Explanation?
  Q5: Problem solving?
  P6: Prevention and health promotion?
  P7: Physical activity for healthier living?

B.Sc. Sportwissenschaft Performance und Gesundheit

• Science Propaedeutics (VL)
• Basics of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion (VL)
• Academic skills and abilities (S)
• Overview of examination and research methods in the fields of sports medicine and training science: Part sports medicine (VL/S/Ü)
• Exercise Physiology (S)
• Medizin in Sport und Übung (S)
• Exercise Immunology (S)
• Applied Sports Medicine (S)
• Basics of Performance and Training Physiology (V/S)

M.Sc. Sportwissenschaft Performance und Gesundheit

• Exercise Immunology (S)
• Medizinische Diagnostik und Datenanalyse (S)

Teaching profession

• Sports Medicine – Anatomy Physiology (VL)

Academic Advisory for the Master of Science Sports Science: Performance & Health
https://www.uni-jena.de/msc-sportscience-performance-health