Supervisors: David Collie, Gerry McLachlan
Project Description:
Understanding the functional relevance of the respiratory microbiome is fundamental to identifying effective strategies to reduce the burden of respiratory disease in cattle and sheep. Previous (2013-2017) EastBio studentship support enabled the application of sequencing, bioinformatics and genomic resources available within Roslin towards characterising the ovine airway surface respiratory microbiome, including the nature and extent of variation of microbial communities both within- and between-individual individuals, and in the same individual animals over time. Further, the relationship between aerodigestive and lower respiratory microbiota, as well as between exhaled breath condensate and lower respiratory microbiota in sheep before and after treatment with antimicrobials was explored 1-3. That these studies have already been published in leading peer-reviewed journals serves to indicate the cutting edge nature of this work within the field.
Key questions have emerged from this research. Notably, whether, and to what extent management changes (such as moving from pasture to housing) influence respiratory microbiota, and whether particular microbiota are associated with immune phenotypes, and hence may have a bearing on susceptibility to respiratory disease.
These, and other questions, represent fertile pastures on which to establish a sound research training, as well as develop novel hypotheses that are both student-led and realisable.
The project will focus on answering key questions in this area and in addressing principles that may underlay a key source of economic loss in animal production it lays directly within the remit of the BBSRC.
Indeed, addressing such questions in their original context, that of conventionally reared small ruminants, demands facilities and resources that are juxtaposed with the scientific expertise and postgraduate support necessary to enable a rewarding and successful PhD studentship. The Roslin Institute offers this environment.
References:
1 Glendinning, L. et al. Microbiota in Exhaled Breath Condensate and the Lung. Applied and environmental microbiology 83, doi:10.1128/aem.00515-17 (2017).
2 Glendinning, L., Collie, D., Wright, S., Rutherford, K. M. D. & McLachlan, G. Comparing microbiotas in the upper aerodigestive and lower respiratory tracts of lambs. Microbiome 5, 145, doi:10.1186/s40168-017-0364-5 (2017).
3 Glendinning, L. et al. Variability of the Sheep Lung Microbiota. Applied and environmental microbiology 82, 3225-3238, doi:10.1128/aem.00540-16 (2016).
If you wish to apply for this project, please check this link and send your application to this email.
