The control of bacterial infections is one of the most important achievement of modern medicine. However, we have failed to keep pace with microbes becoming increasingly resistant to available treatments. This threat is exemplified by Klebsiella pneumoniae, resistant to all major front line antibiotic compounds.
An attractive approach to develop new antimicrobial therapeutics is to boost protective immune responses. This is particularly difficult in the case of Klebsiella infections because we lack a complete understanding of the strategies deployed by Klebsiella to avoid the attack of our defenses.
In this project, we will expose a hitherto unknown Klebsiella evasion strategy directed to counteract the microbicidal function of macrophages. This project builds up upon a landmark discovery of the laboratory showing that Klebsiella survives within a unique compartment in mouse and human macrophages (Cell. Microbiol. 17, 1537-1560 (2015). Moreover, Klebsiella skews the activation status of macrophages to shape the microenvironment of the lung (EMBO Mol Med e16888 (2022)). The Klebsiella factor(s) crucial in the pathogen-macrophage interface are still poorly characterised. This research will uncover that Klebsiella exploits a trans kingdom type VI secretion effector (T6SS) to manipulate the phagolysosome fusion and to govern inflammatory responses. Previous research from our laboratory demonstrated that the role of the T6SS nanoweapon in antimicrobial warfare (PlosPathogens 16(3):e1007969 (2020); this project will expand our knowledge on how microbes utilized the T6SS beyond antimicrobial warfare to control macrophage biology.
The project has three aims: (i) to define the role of Klebsiella T6SS in the pathogen’s macrophage life style; (ii) to dissect the role of the T6SS in macrophage responses, and (iii) to characterize the role of the T6SS in vivo.
The successful candidate will join the Bengoechea laboratory at the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine and will acquire unique skills assessing the microbial-host pathogen interface including single-cell approaches leveraging cellular microbiology, imaging, and mass cytometry techniques.
Funding eligibility: ROI (and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled) status may be eligible for funding. Please review the DfE T&C’s.
English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.
International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.
For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
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