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A recent episode of decline and mortality in Britain’s native oak species, Quercus robur and Q. petraea, has been attributed to Acute Oak Decline (AOD). Symptoms of AOD are predominantly observed on the stem of mature oak trees, where a dark exudate seeps from longitudinal cracks between the bark plates. Fluid-filled cavities develop beneath the bark plates resulting in a necrotic lesion, and several necrotic patches may form in close proximity on the stem of affected trees. Galleries of the buprestid beetle (Agrilus biguttatus) are associated with or in close proximity to the bleeding patches. Some trees die within 3-5 years of the onset of symptoms and current surveys estimate that infection rate on affected sites varies from 2-80%.
Several biotic and abiotic factors have been proposed as potential causative agents of AOD, but bacteria are thought to have a major role. Several species of the Enterobacteriaceae have been isolated from both healthy and AOD affected trees, and conventional tests to prove their ability to induce oak tissue necrosis, the key symptom of AOD, are underway, but additional molecular evidence is required to provide empirical proof. In this project, the successful candidate will perform comparative genomic analyses of several bacterial species consistently isolated from trees affected with AOD, and implicated as possible causal agents of the condition. Comparative genomic analyses will be performed, with the ultimate aim of identifying genes or gene families capable of causing necrosis (e.g. cell-wall degradation) and pathogenicity (e.g. secretion systems and adhesins). Subsequently, identified genes of interest will undergo functional characterisation both in situ and in vitro via the design and application of specific quantitative PCR primer sets for gene expression analyses. In addition, genes implicated in pathogenicity will be cloned and over-expressed for functional screening tests.
Training:
The successful candidate will receive training in a range of molecular and bioinformatic techniques such as genomic DNA extraction and library preparation, PCR, quantitative PCR/gene expression analyses and genome assembly/annotation. Previous experience in some of these techniques would be advantageous.
The student will work within the Environmental Microbiology and Genomics group at Bangor University (under the leadership of Dr. James McDonald and Prof. Peter Golyshin) in collaboration with Dr. Sandra Denman (Forest Research) and Dr. Justin Pachebat (Aberystwyth University). The successful candidate will have the opportunity to assist with sampling and fieldwork, in addition to research visits to Forest Research and Aberystwyth University.
Funding Notes:
The successful candidate will have obtained, or expect to obtain, a first or upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in molecular microbiology or other relevant discipline. The studentship will cover university tuition fees, research expenses and an annual stipend of £14,000 for 3.5 years.
For further information, please contact James McDonald: j.mcdonald@bangor.ac.uk
If you wish to apply for the studentship, please email your curriculum vitae (including the name and contact details of TWO referees) and a covering letter to Dr. McDonald.
Closing date for applications: Friday 13 July 2012