“We are what we breathe.” Air pollution is a major global health risk and yet we know very little of how air pollution particulate pollutants effect bacterial behaviour. Particulate pollutants, a key component of air pollution, is strongly associated with exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease such as COPD and asthma, and adverse effects with chronic skin diseases. There is also an association with increased infectious disease, including community acquired pneumonia, infective endocarditis, infection of cystic fibrosis patients, otitis media and chronic rhinosinusitis. However, until very recently, how particulate pollutants directly affects respiratory bacteria has received no attention, which is surprising considering the importance of these bacteria in maintaining health and as pathogens.
We have substantial evidence showing that the particulate pollutant, black carbon (BC), alters bacterial cell communication and has a widespread impact on bacterial host colonisation. However, we do not know the mechanisms by which BC alters gene expression to potentiate infection and antimicrobial resistance. Elucidation of these mechanisms is the aim of this project.
Our studies showed that exposure to pollutants alters Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus respiratory tract colonisation and induces changes in biofilm formation and importantly altered the tolerance of biofilms to antibiotics (Hussey et al., 201).
Importantly our recent data show that particulate pollutants directly alter MRSA global gene expression increasing toxin and immune evasion genes significantly increasing the risk of infection (Purves et al., 2022).
Particulate pollutants also alters the interaction of S. aureus, and Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis, adhesion and invasion of human epithelial cells and alter S. aureus antibiotic resistance.
The aim of this project is to further explore this novel mechanism of air pollution and determine how particulate pollutants affect bacterial infection. This project will increase our understanding of how air pollution causes increased infectious disease and exacerbates chronic respiratory disease.
Objectives are:
1. Establish the molecular mechanisms involved in the PM-responsive regulation of virulence factors.
2. Determine the importance of PM-regulated biological pathways in infection and antimicrobial resistance
Research plan.
This project will focus on respiratory bacteria associated with community acquired pneumonia or skin infection, or changes in COPD severity. The interplay between bacteria, host and air pollution will be investigated using molecular microbiology, transcriptional analysis, tissue cell culture, flow cytometry and advanced imaging microscopy techniques. This is an exciting, inter-disciplinary project with healthcare implications. The student will benefit from clinical data on the impact of air pollution on microbial communities, clinical samples and project related investigations with respiratory and infectious disease clinicians.
Ramsheh et al. 2021. The Lancet Microbe 2(7) e300-e310. Hussey et al. 2017. Environmental Microbiology 19(5) 1868-1880. Purves. et al. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.04.479102.
How to apply
Information about how to apply is provided here:
https://le.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/funded-opportunities/bbsrc-mibtp
All candidates are encouraged to contact the supervisors for an informal discussion before application.
Contact for enquiries
Prof Julie Morrissey ([Email Address Removed])
https://more.bham.ac.uk/mrc-aim/phd-opportunities/
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