Microbiome metagenomics, senescence and mortality in an island population of birds

这个新颖而令人兴奋的项目将利用元基因组学来研究塞舌尔林莺个体肠道微生物群(GM)与健康、衰老和死亡有关的组成和功能变化。对人类和家养/圈养动物的研究表明，脊椎动物GM-一个由数千个物种组成的复杂微生物群落-在宿主内部的基本过程中发挥作用，并表明GM的差异可能对健康和衰老产生相当大的影响。然而，圈养(和医疗/卫生干预)可能会从根本上影响转基因生物，并扰乱这些研究。在野生脊椎动物种群中，需要详细的研究来衡量个体内转基因基因随时间的变化，以充分了解转基因的作用。我们对塞舌尔林莺岛屿种群的长期监测，在那里对个体进行测量和采样，在它们的一生中，提供了一个独特的机会，在没有非自然条件或医疗干预的混乱问题的情况下对转基因进行研究。我们已经有了关于100岁S个体的样本和准确的健康和存活数据，以前的工作证实，衰老、存活和转基因成分发生了相当大的变化。因此，这一群体为出色的、开创性的研究提供了样本、数据和解决方案。这个博士学位提供了一个特殊的培训机会，在世界级的研究环境中研究前沿的概念问题。你将获得广泛的研究技能，包括测序、元基因组学、生物信息学、数据库使用和统计建模。还将有一个实地考察部分。您还将接受总部设在加州大学诺维奇生物科学博士培训伙伴关系的出色的一般培训，该伙伴关系由大卫·S·理查森教授(UEA)和福尔克·希尔德布兰德博士(Quadram/Earlham Institute)监督，并得到Matt Hutchings教授(JIC)和Hannah Dugdale博士(格罗宁根)的支持。

This novel and exciting project will use metagenomics to investigate compositional and functional changes in individual gut microbiome (GM) linked to health, senescence and mortality in the Seychelles warbler.Studies on humans and domestic/captive animals have shown that the vertebrate GM - a complex microbial community comprising thousands of species - plays a role in fundamental processes within the host and suggests that differences in the GM can have considerable impacts on health and ageing. However, captivity (and medical/health interventions) can radically affect the GM and confound such studies. Detailed studies that measure how the GM changes within individuals over time in wild-living vertebrate populations are needed to fully understand the role of the GM.Our long-term monitoring of an island population of Seychelles warblers, where individuals are measured and sampled throughout their lives, provides a unique opportunity to undertake a study on the GM without the confounding issues of unnatural conditions or medical interventions. We already have samples and accurate health and survival data on 100's of individuals and previous work confirms that considerable variation in senescence, survival and GM composition occurs. This population therefore provides the samples, data and resolution for an excellent, ground-breaking study.This PhD offers an exceptional training opportunity, working on cutting-edge conceptual questions within a world-class research environment. You will gain a wide range of research skills including sequencing, metagenomics, bioinformatics, database use, and statistical modelling. There will also be a fieldwork component. You will also receive excellent general training from the Norwich Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership based at UEA, supervised by Prof David S Richardson (UEA) and Dr Falk Hildebrand (Quadram/Earlham Institute), with support from Prof. Matt Hutchings (JIC) and Dr Hannah Dugdale (Groningen).