Sweet and sticky: The role of protein glycosylation in bacteria colonisation and adaptation to the gut (JUGE_Q27DTP)
Key details
- Application Deadline
- 30 November 2026 23:59 UK Time
- Location
- Quadram Institute Bioscience
- Funding Type
- Competition Funded (Home and International)
- Start Date
- 1 October 2027
- Mode of Study
- Full-time
- Programme Type
- PhD
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Project Description
"The accessory secretion (aSec) system is a protein export pathway that is uniquely present in Gram-positive bacteria and is dedicated to the secretion of large, glycosylated cell wall-anchored adhesins called serine-rich repeat proteins (SRRPs). We previously identified aSec pathways and strain-specific glycosylation of SRRPs in Limosilactobacillus reuteri, a health-promoting gut commensal bacteria showing high host specialisation. This PhD studentship provides an exciting opportunity for the successful candidate to address fundamental questions on the role of protein glycosylation in bacteria adaptation in the gut.
In this PhD project, the student will use in vitro and in vivo approaches including organ-on-chip technology and mouse models to investigate the role of SRRP glycosylation in biofilm formation and colonisation.
The PhD student will join a large and dynamic multidisciplinary team at the Quadram Institute Bioscience and receive mentoring and training in relevant experimental models and state-of-the art analytical tools. Through this PhD studentship, the student will acquire expertise in molecular microbiology, glycobiology, biochemistry, imaging, bioinformatics, advanced microbe-host models (gut organoids) and in vivo skills.
The student will benefit from the established network of international collaborations of the host Labs in this research area. Training will embrace research practice and theory, research integrity, management, communication (to scientific and lay audiences) and technical writing, intellectual property, teamwork. The student will present his/her work at internal seminars and to relevant Microbiology and Glycobiology international meetings, and be encouraged to participate into outreach activities and innovative competitions.
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Entry Requirements
At least UK equivalence Bachelors (Honours) 2:1. English Language requirement (Faculty of Science equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category).
Funding
This project is awarded with a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD DTP studentship. The studentship includes payment of tuition fees (directly to the University), a stipend to cover living expenses (2026/27 stipend rate: £21,805, and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000pa for each year of the studentship.
References
Latousakis D, MacKenzie DA, Telatin A, Juge N. Serine-rich repeat proteins from gut microbes. Gut Microbes 2020; 11(1):102-117. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2019.1602428. Latousakis D, Nepravishta R, Rejzek M, Wegmann U, Le Gall G, Kavanaugh D, Colquhoun IJ, Frese S, MacKenzie DA, Walter J, Angulo J, Field RA, Juge N. Serine-rich repeat protein adhesins from Lactobacillus reuteri display strain specific glycosylation profiles. Glycobiology 2019; 29(1):45-58. doi: 10.1093/glycob/cwy100. Frese SA, Mackenzie DA, Peterson DA, Schmaltz R, Fangman T, Zhou Y, Zhang C, Benson AK, Cody LA, Mulholland F, Juge N, Walter J. Molecular characterization of host-specific biofilm formation in a vertebrate gut symbiont. PLoS Genet. 2013; 9(12):e1004057. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004057. Griffiths R, Pfalzgraf H, Latousakis D, Ashworth G, Dong C, Hemmings A, Juge N. A structural basis for the strain-dependent UDP-sugar specificity of glycosyltransferase C from the Limosilactobacillus reuteri accessory secretion system. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol. 2025; 81(Pt 12):708-717. doi: 10.1107/S2059798325008782. Holden ER, Sims L, Orchard K, Trampari E, Charles IG, Webber MA. Disruption of efflux activity reduces biofilm formation through multiple pathways. Microbiology 2026; 172(6). doi: 10.1099/mic.0.001734.