Key facts
- Type of research degree
- PhD
- Application deadline
- Ongoing deadline
- Country eligibility
- International (open to all nationalities, including the UK)
- Funding
- Non-funded
- Supervisors
- Professor Alex O'Neill
- Schools
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Antibiotics make possible the treatment and cure of life-threatening bacterial infections and have added over a decade to the average human lifespan. Unfortunately, the utility of these drugs is being rapidly eroded as pathogenic bacteria evolve to resist their effects; in 2019, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) killed ~1.3 million people worldwide, and this figure is set to rise to 10 million by 2050. To address this problem, it is imperative that new antibiotics are discovered as matter of urgency. <br /> <br /> The best-validated source of antibiotics is nature, with most of our existing antibiotic armamentarium deriving from soil microorganisms. However, this source stopped routinely yielding novel compounds decades ago and was largely abandoned in the search for new antibiotics. Viewed through the lens of our current knowledge, this was not because this source had been comprehensively mined – far from it, in fact– but simply that continuing to screen the same types of microorganisms in the same way will not deliver new antibiotics (“if you do what you have always done, you get what you always got”).
<p>Our view is that nature remains far and away the best place to look for new antibiotics, though strategic innovation will be essential to do so effectively. The O’Neill lab is working to systematically address the pit-falls and bottle-necks in natural product antibiotic discovery, identifying new sources/ types of microorganism for testing, creating novel screening tools for improved detection of antibiotics, and evolving approaches that allow rapid assessment of the chemical/ functional novelty and therapeutic potential of these compounds .</p> <p>The proposed studentship will not only work to establish innovative approaches to antibiotic discovery, but will also deploy these to identify new drug candidates effective against the most problematic types of multi-drug resistant bacteria. Building on exciting recent findings in our lab, this project will utilise <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolation_chip" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ichip technology</a> to recover microorganisms new to science from a variety of sources, and will screen these for antibiotic production using novel tools/ approaches that will be created or evolved over the course of the study. Collectively, this project will rejuvenate and accelerate the discovery of new antibiotics from nature, thereby helping to address the global challenge of AMR and providing the appointed student with cutting-edge, multidisciplinary training in bacteriology, molecular biology and antibiotic discovery.</p> <p>Please see the O’Neill lab website for more information about what we do, and links to our published work:</p> <p><a href="https://biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/molecular-and-cellular-biology/staff/119/professor-alex-o-neill" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/molecular-and-cellular-biology/staff/119/professor-alex-o-neill</a></p> <p>References</p> <ul> <li>Galarion LH, Mitchell JK, Randall CP, O'Neill AJ (2023) An extensively validated whole-cell biosensor for specific, sensitive and high-throughput detection of antibacterial inhibitors targeting cell-wall biosynthesis. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 78: 646-655</li> <li>Mohamad M, Nicholson D, Saha CK, Hauryliuk V, Edwards TA, Atkinson GC, Ranson NA, O'Neill AJ (2022) Sal-type ABC-F proteins: intrinsic and common mediators of pleuromutilin resistance by target protection in staphylococci. Nucleic Acids Research, 50: 2128-2142.</li> <li>Galarion LH, Mohamad M, Alzeyadi Z, Randall CP, O'Neill AJ (2021). A platform for detecting cross-resistance in antibacterial drug discovery. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 76: 1467-1471</li> <li>Nass NM, Farooque S, Hind C, Wand ME, Randall CP, Sutton JM, Seipke RF, Rayner C, O'Neill AJ (2017). Revisiting unexploited antibiotics in search of new antibacterial drug candidates: the case of gamma-actinorhodin. Scientific Reports, 7: 17419</li> </ul>
<p>To apply for this project opportunity applicants should complete an <a href="https://biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/research-degrees/doc/how-to-apply">online application form</a> and attach the following documentation to support their application. </p> <ul> <li>a full academic CV</li> <li>degree certificate and transcripts of marks</li> <li>Evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (if applicable)</li> </ul> <p>To help us identify that you are applying for this project please ensure you provide the following information on your application form;</p> <ul> <li>Select PhD in Biological Sciences as your programme of study</li> <li>Give the full project title and name the supervisors listed in this advert</li> </ul> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p>
Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher, for example, several faculties, also require a Masters degree. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.
The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.
<p>This project is open to applicants who have the funding to support their own studies or who have a sponsor who will cover these costs. </p>
<p>For information about the application process please contact the Faculty Admissions Team:</p> <p>e: <a href="mailto:fbsgrad@leeds.ac.uk">fbsgrad@leeds.ac.uk</a></p>