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  Investigating the biology and importance of microbial symbiosis in the plant pest, Empoasca decipiens


   Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

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  Prof G Hurst, Dr M Edwards, Prof A Gatehouse  No more applications being accepted  Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

About the Project

The biology of many animals is partly defined by the microbes with which they interact – digestion, immunity, physiology and behaviour are all impacted by microbial partners. These symbioses are most intimate in insects, where the microbes are commonly passed between mother and progeny, in or on eggs. This vertical transmission makes the symbiont an integral – and in some cases essential - part of the host’s biology.

These symbioses are biologically interesting – but also have applied importance. Symbionts can alter important aspects of host biology – such as insect vector competence – and thus be deployed in the field to improve human and plant health. They may also represent ‘weak links’ in organisms that can be targeted – as in control of filarial infections through targeting their required symbiont.

In this project, we will characterize the symbiosis between a gammaproteobacterial symbiont – Symbiopectobacterium purcellii – and hemipteran (plant sap-sucking) bugs. We aim to understand how the symbiont establishes in its insect host, how it impacts on host biology, and how it affects the interaction between insect and plant. Subsequently, we will address wider questions: Does the bacterium travel through the plant? Does it cause plant damage or affect plant resilience to stress? Does it potentiate or inhibit the transmission of other pathogens from bug to plant?

You will work between the insect symbiosis group in Liverpool and the insect-plant interaction group in Newcastle. You’ll receive training in experimental analysis of insect-microbe and insect-plant interactions, molecular microbiology, molecular biology, statistical analysis, and genomics/transcriptomic approaches. You will work in an Open Science environment, promoting the reproducibility of research and the reuse of data. You will also benefit from public and stakeholder engagement activities.

We welcome applications from students with an interest in entomology, microbiology, crop sciences. The most important attribute is the desire to be able to work with all aspects of the interaction – microbe, insect and plant. 

HOW TO APPLY

Applications should be made by emailing [Email Address Removed] with:

·        a CV (including contact details of at least two academic (or other relevant) referees);

·         a covering letter – clearly stating your first choice project, and optionally 2nd ranked project, as well as including whatever additional information you feel is pertinent to your application; you may wish to indicate, for example, why you are particularly interested in the selected project(s) and at the selected University;

·        copies of your relevant undergraduate degree transcripts and certificates;

·        a copy of your passport (photo page).

A GUIDE TO THE FORMAT REQUIRED FOR THE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS IS AVAILABLE AT https://www.nld-dtp.org.uk/how-apply. Applications not meeting these criteria may be rejected.

In addition to the above items, please email a completed copy of the Additional Details Form (as a Word document) to [Email Address Removed]. A blank copy of this form can be found at: https://www.nld-dtp.org.uk/how-apply.

Informal enquiries may be made to [Email Address Removed]. The closing date for applications is 10th January 2022 at 5.00pm (UK time).

Biological Sciences (4)

Funding Notes

Studentships are funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) for 4 years. Funding will cover tuition fees at the UK rate only, a Research Training and Support Grant (RTSG) and stipend. We aim to support the most outstanding applicants from outside the UK and are able to offer a limited number of bursaries that will enable full studentships to be awarded to international applicants. These full studentships will only be awarded to exceptional quality candidates, due to the competitive nature of this scheme.

References

(2021) Transitions in symbiosis: evidence for environmental acquisition and social transmission within a clade of heritable symbionts. The ISME Journal. 15, 2956–2968
(2021) Thermal sensitivity of the Spiroplasma-Drosophila hydei protective symbiosis: The best of climes, the worst of climes. Molecular Ecology 30:1336-1344.
(2020) Septoria Leaf Blotch and Reduced Nitrogen Availability Alter WRKY Transcription Factor Expression in a Codependent Manner. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21:11.
(2020). Volatile organic compounds as insect repellents and plant elicitors: an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy for glasshouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum). Journal of chemical ecology, 46(11), 1090-1104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-020-01229-8.
(2020) Induction of defence in cereals by 4-FPA suppresses insect pest populations and increases crop yields in the field. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) (www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2003742117).

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