Exploring the Diversity and Genetic Traits of the Beneficial Microbiota Genus Bifidobacterium

在我们的肠道中，我们藏匿着各种各样的微生物(称为微生物区系)，这些微生物对我们的健康至关重要。在生命的第一阶段发现的主要微生物群之一是双歧杆菌，这种属在肠道中的存在与提高宿主免疫防御能力有关。由于其相关的健康益处，有必要在全球遗传水平上探索双歧杆菌种群的多样性，确定进化情景，并在健康宿主发育的背景下探索各种遗传因素的影响。该博士生的目标是通过分析数百个完整的双歧杆菌基因组，通过‘干’(生物信息学)和‘湿’(基于实验室)的混合方法来研究和了解双歧杆菌的功能，以揭示该属的遗传多样性，推断系统发育关系，并能够识别潜在的促进健康的遗传特征。

Within our gut we harbour a diverse collection of microbes (termed the microbiota) that are fundamental for our health. One of the dominant microbiota groups found during the first stages of life is Bifidobacterium, and presence of this genus in the gut has been linked to improved host immune defences. Due to their associated health benefits, there is significant need to explore the diversity of the bifidobacterial population at a global genetic level, determine the evolutionary scenario and also explore the influence of various genetic factors within the context of healthy host development. The goal of this PhD studentship is to study and understand bifidobacterial function through a mixture of `dry' (bioinformatics) and `wet' (lab-based) approaches using analysis of several hundred whole bifidobacterial genomes to uncover the genetic diversity of the genus, infer phylogenetic relationships and allow identification of potential health promoting genetic traits.