PhD -Role and mechanism of the bacterial Type VI secretion system
PhD @University of Dundee posted 2 days agoJob Description
- Funding – self-funded/externally sponsored applicants (PhD Fees can be found here)
- Applications are accepted year round
- Standard Entry dates – January and September
- Applicants are expected to have a degree (equivalent of Honours or Masters) in a relevant discipline.
Many species of bacteria use a contractile nanomachine known as the Type VI secretion system (T6SS) to deliver a wide range of toxic proteins, known as ‘effectors’, directly into neighbouring cells. The T6SS plays a key role in the virulence and competitiveness of diverse Gram-negative bacteria, including important human, animal and plant pathogens. In some cases the T6SS can be used to directly attack host cells, as a classical virulence factor. However the primary role of the T6SS is believed to be during inter-bacterial competition, when bacteria use the T6SS to deliver anti-bacterial effectors into other bacterial cells, efficiently killing or disabling competitors. Additionally, we have recently discovered that bacteria can also use T6SS-delivered effectors against microbial fungi, including important fungal pathogens. Anti-microbial T6SSs thus provide a competitive mechanism to allow pathogens to proliferate in polymicrobial infection sites or environmental reservoirs and ultimately cause disease. Understanding T6SS-mediated effector delivery and the lethal consequences of these effectors on targeted cells therefore offers the potential to uncover new ways to kill or inhibit bacterial and fungal pathogens, as well as fundamental insights into the dynamics of polymicrobial communities more broadly.
In the Coulthurst group, we study the roles and regulation of the T6SS, the mechanisms of effector delivery, the nature and mode-of-action of T6SS-dependent effector proteins, and the distribution and evolution of effectors and self-protecting immunity proteins. We utilise a wide range of molecular, cellular, genetic, genomic and structural biology approaches and focus on representative examples of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens.
The PhD project on offer will fall within this area and the specific project undertaken will be developed around an exciting current question or line of research in the group and the interests of the student. The student will gain a experience in a variety of molecular, cellular, structural, ‘omics’ and/or bioinformatics approaches as appropriate, in addition to a strong grounding in molecular microbiology. We work with a broad set of collaborators who can provide further access to cutting-edge imaging, analytical and computational approaches. The student will also have varied opportunities to engage with the international research community and the general public.
Our research community thrives on the diversity of students and staff which helps to make the University of Dundee a UK university of choice for postgraduate research. We welcome applications from all talented individuals and are committed to widening access to those who have the ability and potential to benefit from higher education.
How to apply
Please contact the principal project supervisor to discuss your interest further, see supervisor details below.
For general enquiries, contact SLS-PhDAdmin@dundee.ac.uk
