PhD studentship
Project title: Seeing is believing, observing bacterial biofilm formation in vivo
A 4–year PhD studentship is available as part of a BBSRC DTP. Most bacteria grow as biofilms in their natural environment. This is particularly important for pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, which is notorious for growing on implants such as joint replacements. Such biofilms are extremely difficult to treat with antibiotics and often means the implant needs to be removed. The project will bring together state-of-the-art imaging approaches to determine how biofilms are made during an infection. The zebrafish embryo model of S. aureus pathogenesis is unique to Sheffield and offers a window on disease, as the embryos are transparent. The project will visualise biofilm formation in vivo using a combination of fluorescent labelling of bacteria and real-time microscopy to determine components important in biofilm formation and how they are expressed. The action of antimicrobial interventions will be visualised in vivo using the zebrafish model. The experiments will be used to inform approaches for understanding and controlling biofilm formation in mammals by such an important antimicrobial resistant pathogen as S. aureus.
Supervisor: Prof Simon Foster (University of Sheffield)
Co-supervisor: Prof Stephen Renshaw (University of Sheffield)
Please refer informal enquiries to: s.foster@sheffield.ac.uk
For information on applying, see https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply/applying
A 4–year PhD studentship is available as part of a BBSRC DTP. Most bacteria grow as biofilms in their natural environment. This is particularly important for pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, which is notorious for growing on implants such as joint replacements. Such biofilms are extremely difficult to treat with antibiotics and often means the implant needs to be removed. The project will bring together state-of-the-art imaging approaches to determine how biofilms are made during an infection. The zebrafish embryo model of S. aureus pathogenesis is unique to Sheffield and offers a window on disease, as the embryos are transparent. The project will visualise biofilm formation in vivo using a combination of fluorescent labelling of bacteria and real-time microscopy to determine components important in biofilm formation and how they are expressed. The action of antimicrobial interventions will be visualised in vivo using the zebrafish model. The experiments will be used to inform approaches for understanding and controlling biofilm formation in mammals by such an important antimicrobial resistant pathogen as S. aureus.
Supervisor: Prof Simon Foster (University of Sheffield)
Co-supervisor: Prof Stephen Renshaw (University of Sheffield)
Please refer informal enquiries to: s.foster@sheffield.ac.uk
For information on applying, see https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply/applying
