Understanding chemical warfare in the nest of leafcutter ants (HUTCHINGSU18DTP2)

All plants and animals are associated with beneficial bacterial communities that we call their microbiomes. Despite recent advances in microbial community analysis however we have a very limited understanding of how a host assembles a beneficial microbiome or the benefits exchanged between the host and symbiotic bacteria.

We address these questions using South American leafcutter ants as a model system. Acromyrmex echinatior ants cut leaves from the rainforest and feed them to a symbiotic fungus that they grow as food. The fungal cultivar is the sole food source for their larvae and without it the colony will die. However, the ants are plagued by a co-evolved fungus called Escovopsis which parasitises the fungal cultivar and cause it, and the whole ant colony, to die. To combat Escovopsis the ants grow antibiotic-producing actinomycete bacteria on the outsides of their bodies. The bacteria make antibacterials that prevent other bacteria from growing on the ants and antifungals which the ants use as weed killers to kill the Escovopsis. This is a great model system because the microbiome is well characterised, external and experimentally tractable.

In this interdisciplinary project you will use cutting edge techniques, including dual RNA-seq, stable isotope probing and mass spectrometry to understand the positive and negative interactions that occur between the ants, their microbiome bacteria and the Escovopsis parasite and to determine which antibiotics the actinomycete bacteria are making to prevent other bacteria from invading their niche. The project will be carried out at UEA and the John Innes Centre and full training will be provided. There will be opportunities to collect Acromyrmex colonies in Gamboa, Panama, attend conferences and do public engagement.

This project has been shortlisted for funding by the Norwich Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NRPDTP). Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed as part of the studentship competition. Candidates will be interviewed on either the 9th, 10th or 11th January 2018.
The Norwich Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NRPDTP) offers postgraduates the opportunity to undertake a 4 year research project whilst enhancing professional development and research skills through a comprehensive training programme. You will join a vibrant community of world-leading researchers. All NRPDTP students undertake a three month professional internship (PIPS) during their study. The internship offers exciting and invaluable work experience designed to enhance professional development. Full support and advice will be provided by our Professional Internship team. For further information and to apply, please visit our website: www.biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk

For more information on the supervisor for this project, please go here: https://www.uea.ac.uk/biological-sciences/people/profile/m-hutchings
Type of programme: PhD
Start date of project: 1st October 2018
Mode of study: Full time
Length of studentship: 4 years

Students with, or expecting to attain, at least an upper second class honours degree, or equivalent, are invited to apply.