Interactions between the food borne pathogen LIsteria monocytogenes and host mucus

Listeria monocytogenes is an intracellular food borne pathogen responsible for a number of life threatening infections. Following ingestion of contaminated food the bacteria invade via the gut mucosa before disseminating to the liver and spleen. To date little is know about the interaction between L. monocytogenes and host mucus that coats the GI-tract. This project will investigate the interaction between L. monocytogenes and the host mucus. First the project will use RNA-seq to study L. monocytogenes gene expression upon interaction with host mucus. Secondly, using this information, the project will generate defined mutants in L. monocytogenes and characterise their phenotype in response to interaction with, and navigation through, host mucus to reach target epithelial cells. Thirdly, the project will use biochemical approaches to monitor the effects of L. monocytogenes on the integrity of host mucus. Finally the project will investigate the effects on cytokine and chemokine production by epithelial cells following interaction between L. monocytogenes and host cell mucus. These experiments will generate vital information on this unstudied aspect of the life cycle of L. monocytogenes.

The project is interdisciplinary. Training will be provided in molecular microbiology, bioinformatics (analysis of RNA seq data), biochemical techniques to study mucus structure including analytical ultracentrifugation, agglutinin binding and immunology including ELISA and in situ hybridisation.