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Sex, drugs, and the lipidome: using 'omics to understand the role of fat during infection

Project Overview

Infected animals exhibit a variety of behavioural, physiological and metabolic changes. Some of the most striking changes that accompany infection are related to metabolism, specifically, fat metabolism. The role of fat metabolism in host-pathogen interactions has received increased attention following the discovery that obese individuals experienced worse outcomes when infected with SARS-CoV-2. A recent discovery in the Vincent lab has the potential to shed light on the subject.
We found that during infection with the bacterium Francisella novicida, male fruit flies outlive females, a surprising finding since across the animal kingdom, females usually fare better than males during infection. Further, during this same infection, males exhibit significant fat loss whilst females do not, and when the ability to synthesize fat is inhibited in males, they lose this survival advantage. Together, these findings suggest that:
  1. during Francisella novicida infection, fat loss benefits the host,  
  2. sex differences in fat metabolism contribute to the often-observed sex differences in infection.
This PhD project will explore these two themes. In addition, the antibiotic tetracycline disrupts fat metabolism, potentially having counteracting effects on infection. This project will also explore tetracycline’s role in host fat metabolism and how this affects infection outcomes.

Research Environment

The project is based in the Vincent lab which focuses on mechanisms of infection pathology. Work in the lab is diverse in nature, allowing opportunities to expand your knowledge, develop skills outside of your project and become involved in projects beyond your discipline.

Throughout the project you will have opportunities to present your research at local, national and international conferences, workshops and symposia. The project is highly collaborative in nature and will involve partners both within SBBS and at other universities.

Find out more about the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences on our website.

Keywords: Microbiology, Biology, Biochemistry, Immunity, Bioinformatics

Entry Requirements

We are looking for candidates to have or expecting to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree and a Master’s degree in an area relevant to the project such as Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Immunology.

Knowledge of lab procedures and protocols used in the fields of Molecular biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics would be highly advantageous but are not required.

You must meet the IELTS requirements for your course and upload evidence before CSC’s application deadline, ideally by 1st March 2025. You are therefore strongly advised to sit an approved English Language test as soon as possible, where your IELTS test must still be valid when you enrol for the programme.

Please find further details on our English Language requirements page.

How to Apply

Formal applications must be submitted through our online form by 29th January 2025 for consideration. Please identify yourself as a ‘CSC Scholar’ in the funding section of the application.

Applicants are required to submit the following documents:

  • Your CV
  • Personal Statement
  • Evidence of English Language e.g.) IELTS Certificate
  • Copies of academic transcripts and degree certificates
  • References

Find out more about our application process on our SBBS website.

Informal enquiries about the project can be sent to Dr Vincent AT bty323@qmul.ac.uk  Admissions-related queries can be sent to sbbs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a formal interview by the supervisor. If you are successful in your QMUL application, then you will be issued an QMUL Offer Letter, conditional on securing a CSC scholarship along with academic conditions still required to meet our entry requirements.

Once applicants have obtained their QMUL Offer Letter, they should then apply to CSC for the scholarship with the support of the supervisor.

For further information, please go to the QMUL China Scholarship Council webpage.

Apply Online

References

  1. Vincent CM, Simoes da Silva CJ, Wadhawan A and Dionne MS (2020) Origins of Metabolic Pathology in Francisella-Infected Drosophila. Front. Immunol. 11:1419. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01419
  2. Wat LW, Chao C, Bartlett R, Buchanan JL, Millington JW, Chih HJ, et al. (2020) A role for triglyceride lipase brummer in the regulation of sex differences in Drosophila fat storage and breakdown. PLoS Biol 18(1): e3000595. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000595
  3. Dionne MS, Pham LN, Shirasu-Hiza M, Schneider DS (2006) Akt and foxo Dysregulation Contribute to Infection-Induced Wasting in Drosophila. Current Biology 16(20): 1977-1985. doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2006.08.052

 

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