Tick pathobiome and associated health risks: metagenomic and functional approaches

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Tick pathobiome and associated health risks: metagenomic and functional approaches

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Job description

Offer DescriptionBeyond the simple detection or identification of zoonotic pathogens (and also symbionts, commensals and mutualists) transmitted by ticks, we wish to use a metagenomic approach in I. ricinus to obtain an in-depth characterisation of the genome of the key bacteria present. Analysis of the genomes will provide access to a wealth of information, both phylogenomic and functional, as well as data on possible interactions between the pathobiome and the microbiota and on the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes. This project will also provide a new and original view of interactions between pathogens through a molecular study of the role of the quorum sensing system in bacteria of the Bartonella genus (in association with Borrelia). It will thus open up a new aspect of risk assessment linked to Bartonella in human and animal health.Because of its multidisciplinary nature, the subject of this thesis will focus on the pathobiome associated with ticks, seeking to identify in ticks i) the frequency of co-infections of major pathogens and to evaluate (collection in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region) ii) the cellular mechanisms at the origin of possible co-transmissions of pathogens. We propose to achieve these objectives by means of 3 tasks. Task 3 will be carried out independently. The 3 tasks are 1) the collection of ticks directly in the field, 2) the characterisation of the pathobiome of each of these ticks and the analysis of the antibiotic resistance genes present, 3) the involvement of the QS in potential interactions between a model pathogen, Bartonella, its host and the rest of the microbiota.The whole microbiota of each tick will be characterised on an individual scale.To do this, the ticks will be crushed and the DNA extracted from the enriched bacterial fraction (microbiota including the pathobiome) will be analysed using Illumina/Oxford Nanopore hybrid sequencing in order to reconstitute the genomes (Metagenome assembled genomes MAGs) of the organisms present. We will also study the resistome (antibiotic resistance elements).The functionality of quorum sensing (QS) will be studied in a reference strain of Bartonella. The creation of deletion mutants will enable us to assess the role of QS in the fitness of the bacteria and in their interactions. Finally, the interactions between infecting bacteria(wild-type and mutants) will be tested in vivo, alone or in mixtures, on a murine model of infection (monitoring bacterial dissemination by imaging and analysis of immunological parameters).RequirementsResearch Field Biological sciences » Other Education Level Master Degree or equivalentSkills/QualificationsCandidates must have completed a Master 2 within the last 2 years and have developed skills in the field of microbiology and molecular biology.Skills in mutant creation would be greatly appreciated. Candidates should also have knowledge of, or a strong interest in, the use of bioinformatics tools applied to Systems Biology (genomic and transcriptomic approaches in particular).Languages ENGLISH Level GoodResearch Field Biological sciences » Other Years of Research Experience 1 – 4Additional InformationWebsite for additional job detailsWork Location(s)Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute University of Poitiers Country France GeofieldWhere to apply E-mailjulien.verdon@univ-poitiers.frContact CityPoitiers WebsiteStreet3 rue Jacques Fort Postal Code86073 POITIERS CEDEX 9STATUS: EXPIRED

Expected salary

Location

Poitiers, Vienne

Job date

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 05:07:01 GMT

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