Bacterial pathogen evolution during antibiotic-phage combination treatment

Project Code

IIAR27Ex Westra

Project Type

Wet lab

Research Theme

Infection, Immunity, and Antimicrobial Resistance

Project Summary Download

Summary

Antimicrobial resistance is a major threat to modern medicine, and bacteriophage therapy is a promising route to treat drug-resistant infections. Yet phage therapy can fail when bacteria evolve resistance or deploy defence systems that block infection. This project will ask how antibiotics reshape phage-bacteria interactions, resistance evolution, and cell-to-cell variation in bacterial responses. The student will combine experimental evolution, microbiology, single-cell imaging and biochemistry, working across Exeter, Bath and Bristol. Patient and public involvement will help keep the project focused on clinically relevant questions and the future use of phage therapy.

Can the project be completed part time?

Yes

Lead Supervisor

Professor Edze Westra

Lead Supervisor Email

E.R.Westra@exeter.ac.uk

University Affiliation

University of Exeter

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