MSc by Research: Understanding temperature-dependent virulence regulation in bacterial pathogens

Bacterial pathogens respond rapidly to environmental change, in ways that can influence their growth, virulence, antimicrobial resistance and, therefore, infection outcomes. The ability to adapt to changing conditions is intrinsically linked to environmental sensing systems that respond to local physical, chemical and biological cues. A key trigger for many bacterial pathogens is temperature change. Sudden increases in local temperature are associated with initial colonisation of a host and with movement from peripheral to internal host niches. Exploring how bacterial pathogens sense and respond to temperature change can help us understand disease mechanisms and may pave the way to future therapeutic interventions.  

 Using the major human respiratory pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae as an exemplar, this project will explore how temperature influences pathogen gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level, and how this leads to phenotypic change that affects antimicrobial resistance, virulence and pathogenesis. Using transcriptomic, molecular genetics and infection biology approaches, the student will identify genes that are differentially regulated by temperature and will explore how their protein products contribute to adaptation to host conditions. Temperatures associated variously with the external environment, the upper airways, core body temperature and fever will be considered. The student will have the opportunity to analyse large transcriptomic datasets, to generate and characterise bacterial mutants and to explore host-pathogen interactions in in vitro infection studies with mammalian cells.   

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.

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https://www.dundee.ac.uk/study/pgr/research-areas/life-sciences/

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· 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.

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