Understanding how interaction with the host influences virulence and antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is a leading pathogen globally and also asymptomatically colonises the upper respiratory tract of more than 30% of humans. The staphylococcal pathogenesis lab focuses on understanding the factors that contribute to the success of Staphylococcus aureus as a commensal and pathogen and using this information to discover new targets for decolonisation or treatment of infection. Bacterial adhesion is a crucial step during infection. Staphylococcus aureus possesses a vast repertoire of adhesins that facilitate attachment to host molecules and surfaces. The aim of this project is to advance our understanding of the bacterium-host interaction by discovering how S. aureus responds to attaching to a host surface, and to identify how this changes susceptibility to antibiotics or host defenses.

Key Objectives

1. Establish how expression and activity of S. aureus adhesin proteins is modulated by the sensing of host proteins and surfaces.

2. Discover how S. aureus virulence factor production is modulated by interaction with host proteins and surfaces.

3. Discover how susceptibility to antimicrobial agents and host defenses changes following interactions with host molecules.

The student will join a collegiate interdisciplinary research group within the Institute of Microbiology and Infection at University of Birmingham and benefit from collaboration between Professor Joan Geoghegan and Dr Tim Overtons’ groups. The student will be trained in a range of molecular microbiology and infection biology techniques, single cell analysis, transcriptional profiling and proteomics.

Funding notes:

The project is offered through the Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) which is funded by a BBSRC Doctoral Landscape Award. Applications should be made at the link below, though interested candidates are strongly advised to get in touch with the supervisors first.