Evolution of the commensal microbiome under repeated pathogen exposure
Supervisors:
Dr Rachel Wheatley, Queens University Belfast
Dr Jason Brown, University of Glasgow
Dr Edel Hyland, Queens University Belfast
Summary:
Bacterial pathogens are associated with more than 7 million infection-related deaths per year. The spread of antibiotic resistance is threatening our ability to successfully treat infections and is driving increases in mortality and costs across healthcare systems worldwide. In order to infect a host, a bacterial pathogen must first successfully invade the host-associated microbiome. Commensal microbes reside in this microbiome without harming host health and can provide colonisation resistance against pathogens via several direct and indirect mechanisms, including toxin antagonism, nutrient blocking, or through interactions with host immunity.
The goal of this PhD is to investigate the evolution of commensal microbes in response to repeated pathogen exposure, and to understand how the acquisition of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens impacts the commensal microbes they interact with. This project will help us understand the mechanisms by which commensal microbes can resist pathogen invasion, the impact of antibiotic resistance on these outcomes, and the extent to which pathogen invasion forms a selective pressure in the microbiome. Application of this knowledge could improve our ability to manipulate the microbiome to enhance colonization resistance.
This PhD will provide training in experimental microbiology, molecular biology, bacterial genetics, and bioinformatics.