Thesis supervisor: Domonkos László Sváb
Location of studies (in Hungarian): ATE Abbreviation of location of studies: ATE
Description of the research topic:
Bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family include foodborne, zoonotic, and animal pathogens, which pose a high public health risk and cause significant economic losses every year. The various pathotypes of Escherichia coli and several other enterobacterial species, because of their great genetic variability and increasing antibiotic resistance, represent significant challenges in veterinary medicine, food safety, and human healthcare. As an answer to antibiotic resistance, research projects aimed at the possible use of bacteriophages as alternative antibacterial agents have been conducted worldwide.
In our project, we collected samples of livestock to isolate as many zoonotic and animal pathogenic enterobacterial strains as possible. Emphasis will be placed on Shiga toxigenic (STEC) and enterotoxigenic (ETEC) E. coli, as well as E. coli representing new or hybrid pathotypes, Yersinia enterocolitica, Y. pseudotuberculosis, and other enterobacterial species. From the same samples, we plan to isolate bacteriophages as well. We intend to characterise both bacterial strains and phages in-depth with complete genomes determined where possible. In the case of bacterial strains, emphasis will be placed on prophages and other mobile genetic elements often carrying virulence genes and the assessment of their pathogenic or zoonotic potential. We aimed to isolate lytic phages which are good candidates for diagnostic or antibacterial applications. We will characterise their genomes, morphology, and host spectrum, and in vitro and in situ challenge experiments will be performed using pathogenic and multi-resistant bacterial strains as hosts. Our aim was to monitor the genetic variability of the pathogens, with a special regard to mobile genetic elements, and to isolate and characterise effective lytic bacteriophages against them, assessing the detailed pheno- and genotypic traits of these replicons. Using in situ laboratory experiments, we also aimed to assess their potential for eradicating pathogenic enterobacteria from foodstuffs.
Our basic research aims to 1) isolate bacterial strains with new genotypes, 2) characterise mobile genetic elements including prophages, 3) identify new lytic bacteriophages in detail, and 4) explore their phylogenetic relationships, which in turn could help in the 5) practical application of bacteriophages.
Required language skills: angol Further requirements: • szakirányú végzettség (állatorvos vagy biológus MSc diploma)
• legalább középfokú angol nyelvvizsga,
• gyakorlat az alapvető molekuláris biológiai módszerekben,
• laboratóriumi kísérleti gyakorlat,
• elkötelezettség a kut
Number of students who can be accepted: 1
Deadline for application: 2024-05-17
2024. IV. 17. ODT ülés Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).
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