Microbes play a critical role in the bioremediation of human, animal, and plant-derived waste. One commonly implemented mechanism to process polymers into smaller molecules is the production and secretion of hydrolytic enzymes. Once generated the smaller molecules become accessible for uptake by the surrounding microbes and are used to support growth.
The Gram-positive soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis is responsible for >50% of the proteases produced industrially worldwide. Knowledge of extracellular protease production in B. subtilis has facilitated enhanced heterologous protein production systems using chassis strains of B. subtilis that lack the native extracellular protease coding regions, for example.
The narrow range of environments and strains in which extracellular enzyme production has been studied means that our understanding of the deployment of extracellular proteases outside the laboratory environment is limited.
The aim of this project is to exploit the genetic diversity contained within different isolates of B. subtilis to probe the contributions made by secreted proteolytic enzymes to bacterial adaptation mechanisms and survival strategies in diverse environments.
You will become familiar with molecular biology techniques, become proficient at working with bacteria within the laboratory, will implement bioinformatics to inform your hypothesis generation, and will design and execute physiological assays.
Please see our website for further details on the programme:
Life Sciences MSc by Research MSc by Research (Postgraduate) : Study : University of Dundee
Please note before submitting your application that you must list your top three project choices in the Research Proposal section of the application form.
You apply for this course using our Direct Application System. Once you've signed up for an account you'll be asked to search for a course.
https://www.dundee.ac.uk/study/pgr/research-areas/life-sciences/
To find Life Science MSc by Research you should select the following options:
· Course type: Research Postgraduate
· Keyword: Life
When you complete your form, you should include your top 3 project choices, 2 letters of reference, uploaded under "Other Information" > "Supporting documents" and a personal statement. Failure to do so will delay your application.
Please note when submitting an application that we have the following deadline dates throughout the year:
September Starts - Application Deadline 1st May, Interview Date - Late June
January Starts - Application Deadline 1st Sep, Interview Date - Late October
May Starts - Application Deadline 1st Feb, Interview Date - Late March