This project focuses on using bacteriophages (viruses that target bacteria) to address the challenge of drug-resistant, pathogenic Escherichia coli in farmed poultry – a key threat to global food security. This project will develop innovative phage therapies to selectively target drug-resistant Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) while preserving the balance of the gut microbiome.
APEC causes colibacillosis, a serious disease in poultry that results in significant economic losses. Traditional reliance on antibiotics to manage these infections has driven antimicrobial resistance (AMR), endangering human, animal, and environmental health. Phages offer a highly targeted alternative to antibiotics, with the potential to eliminate harmful bacteria while leaving beneficial gut microbes intact.
Research Aims: This project will develop innovative phage therapies to selectively target drug-resistant APEC, while preserving the balance of the gut microbiome. Our overarching question is: How do phages impact the gut microbiome and impact poultry health?
During this fully funded studentship, you will:
1. Develop Phage Cocktails: You will isolate new phages, test their effectiveness, and create optimal combinations for targeting APEC and AMR plasmids.
2. Evaluate Phage Therapy in Gut Models: Using our innovative in vitro avian gut model, you’ll assess phage efficacy in suppressing APEC and analyze its impact on the gut microbial community through advanced genomic techniques.
3. Explore Phage-Microbiota Interactions: Investigate how the diversity of the microbiota influences the success of phage therapy, and whether phages drive or adapt to community dynamics.
This project combines microbiology, bioinformatics, and veterinary science to tackle a global challenge. You will gain hands-on experience in phage biology, bacteriology, bioinformatics, and microbiota research, working with state-of-the-art facilities and a supportive team. Your findings will pave the way for groundbreaking interventions in sustainable poultry farming.
The student will undertake a comprehensive training program to develop skills essential for their research project. This includes genomics and metagenomics courses offered by the Microbial Communities Research Collective at the University of Surrey, under the guidance of the lead supervisor. Practical expertise will be further enhanced through focused training in phage biology, equipping the student with knowledge of bacteriophages in microbial systems, and through access to the Flow Cytometry Core Facility, offering training in techniques for analyzing cell populations.
Apply here https://research.reading.ac.uk/foodbiosystems/apply-for-a-foodbiosystems-phd/for-phd-students-2/
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