PhD in “Novel bacterial copper storage proteins and their role in pathogenicity, methane oxidation and other key processes”

Number of awards:

1

Start date and duration:

24 September 2018 for 3.5 years.

Overview:

Copper is an essential metal ion for most organisms, acting as a cofactor for key enzymes. However, copper can also have toxic effects on cells, and mechanisms have evolved for its safe handling. We have discovered a new family of proteins that allow bacteria to safely store copper (Nature 2015, 525, 140–143). These proteins (the Csps) were identified in methanotrophs, where they can store copper for the main enzyme that oxidises methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Csp homologues are widespread in methanotrophs and a range of other bacteria including a number of important pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Salmonella enterica sv. Typhimurium.

As copper is thought to be used by hosts to attack invading pathogens, the presence of a protein that can defend by soaking up large quantities of copper ions could be key for virulence. A better understanding of the role of Csps in copper handling by bacteria is clearly required, which will be achieve using a range of in vitro and in vivo approaches.

This work can be carried out either in a pathogen or the widely used model organism Bacillus subtilis. There is also the option to study the role of Csps in methanotrophs. The actual system(s) studied in this PhD project will be tailored to the preferences of the successful applicant. This interdisciplinary project will provide training in a range of biochemical, biophysical, microbiological, genomic, molecular biology, cell biology and metalloproteomic techniques and bioinformatics.

References: Vita et al., Nature 2015, 525, 140-143; Baslé et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 2017, 56, 8697-8700; Dennison et al., J. Biol. Chem. 2018, 293, 4616-4627.

Sponsor:

BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP2) (http://www.nld-dtp.org.uk/)

Name of supervisor(s):

Professor C. Dennison (https://bit.ly/2lPj5pO), Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences (https://bit.ly/2tNF70B).

Eligibility Criteria:

You must have at least a 2:1 honours degree in Biochemistry, Biological Chemistry, Microbiology or a related subject.

The award is available to UK/EU applicants only. Depending on how you meet the BBSRC’s eligibility criteria, you may be entitled to a full or a partial award.

How to apply:

You must apply through the University’s online postgraduate application system. To do this please ‘Create a new account’ (https://bit.ly/2NkbFaD).

Only mandatory fields need to be completed. However, you will need to include the following information:
•insert the programme code 8300F in the programme of study section
•select ‘PhD in the Faculty of Medical Sciences - Cell and Molecular Biosciences’ as the programme of study
•insert the studentship code CB150 in the studentship/partnership reference field
•attach a covering letter and CV. The covering letter must state the title of the studentship, quote the studentship reference code CB150 and state how your interests and experience relate to the project
•attach degree transcripts and certificates and, if English is not your first language, a copy of your English language qualifications.