Prof E Morgan, Prof Nikki Marks
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Background and significance of research:
Resistance of nematodes to anthelmintic drugs threatens the sustainability of ruminant production worldwide. New tools at various stages of development include bioactive forages, nematocidal fungi, vaccines, and breeding for enhanced host immunity. These are likely to be used alongside anthelmintics in a ‘basket of options’ approach. So far, little attention has been paid to how these various options can best be combined in the control strategies of the future. It is widely assumed, for instance, that their action will be independent, leading to additive impacts on parasite populations, but this is not necessarily the case. In fact, effects will depend on both efficacy and epidemiology. For example, bioactive forages could be used following anthelmintic treatment to reduce the survival of resistant worms, but this depends on how well they work against resistant versus susceptible genotypes, whether such sequential grazing suits farm management, and climatic effects on subsequent larval development and survival. By comparing the efficacy of different control methods on worms surviving other treatments, and mapping the most powerful combinations onto farm management, we can refine control strategies to manage parasite evolution as well as levels of infection. Results will support sustainable agriculture in Northern Ireland and globally.
Research aims:
The project aims to determine how the effects of different control methods for gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants are correlated, using in vitro (laboratory) and in vivo (on-farm) approaches. The potential of alternative control methods to reduce onward transmission of resistant worms surviving drug treatment will be evaluated. Plans to apply the results will be co-produced with farmers, using epidemiological models to assess impacts under current and future climates.
This project will be supervised by Professor Eric Morgan and Dr Nikki Marks of the Institute for Global Food Security/School of Biological Sciences.
The successful applicant will register as a research student at Queen’s University School of Biological Sciences.
Funding Notes
This project is funded by the Department for the Economy (DfE). Only UK and EU students are eligible to apply. Full information on eligibility criteria is available from the DfE website: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/department-economy-studentships
Academic requirements:
A 2.1 UK Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject is required.
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