How does a Superbug evolve?
Bacteria are key parts of the human microbiome, and we carry as many bacterial cells as our own representing hundreds or thousands of species in any individual. These bacteria have a large impact on our health and can also cause disease making understanding how they adapt and evolve to live with us critical. One group of important bacteria are the coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) which commonly live on our skin and can occasionally cause disease. CoNS are constantly evolving in response to pressures of selection from other bacteria and host defences. One strain of Staphylococcus capitis, a common CoNS known as NRCS-A has been found to have become adapted to neonates. This strain is carried by neonates and is now common in neonatal intensive care units throughout the world where it can cause deadly infections. It is unclear why NRCS-A has become more successful than other strains of S. capitis although it has been shown to have develop the ability to live in the gut as well as the skin. This project will study why NRCS-A has become a globally successful strain in neonates.
The project will use cutting-edge molecular and bioinformatic approaches and utilise a unique bacterial strain collection we have assembled. You will join a large community of molecular microbiologists within the Quadram Institute in a brand new, purpose built building with state of the art facilities. The Quadram Institute is based on the Norwich Research Park – home to the Centre for Microbial Interactions, one of the largest groups of microbiologists in europe with a collaborating group based on site within the University of East Anglia. The project offers an outstanding training experience provided by a world class suprervisory team in an exemplary environment.
Informal enquiries can be sent to mark.webber@quadram.ac.uk
References
Felgate H, Sethi D, Faust K, Kiy C, Härtel C, Rupp J, Clifford R, Dean R, Tremlett C, Wain J, Langridge G, Clarke P, Page AJ, Webber MA. Characterisation of neonatal Staphylococcus capitis NRCS-A isolates compared with non NRCS-A Staphylococcus capitis from neonates and adults. Microb Genom. 2023 Oct;9(10):001106. doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.001106.
Yuan JM, Nugent C, Wilson A, Verlander NQ, Alexander E, Fleming P, Modi N, Oughham K, Ratnaraja N, Wan Y, Thorn L, Felgate H, Webber MA, Ogundipe E, Brown CS, Paranthaman K, Demirjian A. Clinical outcomes of Staphylococcus capitis isolation from neonates, England, 2015-2021: a retrospective case-control study. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2024 Feb 19;109(2):128-134. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2023-325887
Wirth T, Bergot M, Rasigade JP, Pichon B, Barbier M, Martins-Simoes P, Jacob L, Pike R, Tissieres P, Picaud JC, Kearns A, Supply P, Butin M, Laurent F; International Consortium for Staphylococcus capitis neonatal sepsis; ESGS Study Group of ESCMID. Niche specialization and spread of Staphylococcus capitis involved in neonatal sepsis. Nat Microbiol. 2020 May;5(5):735-745. doi:10.1038/s41564-020-0676-2.
Holden ER, Yasir M, Turner AK, Wain J, Charles IG, Webber MA. Massively parallel transposon mutagenesis identifies temporally essential genes for biofilm formation in Escherichia coli. Microb Genom. 2021 Nov;7(11):000673. doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.000673.
Sullivan MJ, Goh KGK, Gosling D, Katupitiya L, Ulett GC. Copper Intoxication in Group B Streptococcus Triggers Transcriptional Activation of the cop Operon That Contributes to Enhanced Virulence during Acute Infection. J Bacteriol. 2021 Sep 8;203(19):e0031521. doi: 10.1128/JB.00315-21.