Assembly of the matrix that supports bacteria living in biofilms

支持生活在生物膜中的细菌的基质的组装

• 批准号: 2468773
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Dundee
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2024 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2468773
• 关键词: Assembly; matrix; supports; bacteria; living

Biofilms are complex communities of microbial cells that are enclosed in an extracellular matrix. The biofilm matrix comprises self-produced macromolecules that serve to provide structural integrity and protection from mechanical, chemical and immunological stress. The formation of biofilms results in the establishment of chronic infections in mammalian hosts but can also be exploited for bio-remediation and bio-control processes in environmental settings. Bacillus subtilis is a Gram-positive soil bacterium that is an excellent model for examining the structure and function of the biofilm matrix. The B. subtilis biofilm matrix is formed by three specific components. The first is an exopolysaccharide that serves to retain moisture within the biofilm and functions as a signalling molecule. The second extracellular component needed for biofilm formation is the protein BslA, which forms a water-repellent coat at the surface of the biofilm, rendering it resistant to environmental insult. The third component of the biofilm matrix is the secreted protein TasA. The PhD student appointed will take an innovative interdisciplinary approach that combines expertise in biomolecular physics and molecular microbiology to help to elucidate the mechanism of biofilm matrix assembly.

生物膜是封闭在细胞外基质中的微生物细胞的复杂群落。生物膜基质包含用于提供结构完整性和保护免受机械、化学和免疫应激的自生大分子。生物膜的形成导致在哺乳动物宿主中建立慢性感染，但也可用于环境设置中的生物补救和生物控制过程。枯草芽孢杆菌是一种革兰氏阳性土壤细菌，是研究生物膜基质结构和功能的极好模型。B。枯草杆菌生物膜基质由三种特定组分形成。第一种是胞外多糖，其用于保持生物膜内的水分并作为信号分子发挥作用。生物膜形成所需的第二种细胞外组分是蛋白质BslA，其在生物膜表面形成防水涂层，使其对环境侵害具有抗性。生物膜基质的第三种成分是分泌蛋白TasA。任命的博士生将采取创新的跨学科方法，结合生物分子物理学和分子微生物学的专业知识，以帮助阐明生物膜基质组装的机制。