Development of novel therapeutic strategies to target Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence

About the Project

Project Description

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a sophisticated pathogen which can replicate in eukaryotic cells and survive in infected humans for decades. Current tuberculosis treatment includes a 6-month chemotherapy with a combination of four drugs. A growing challenge of multidrug resistant TB highlights the urgent need for development of novel strategies to control, prevent and eradicate TB. We have recently shown that Mtb persisters that cannot be detected by standard methods are produced during infection. The project is aimed to investigate new drugs that target host signalling pathways to reduce generation of these persisters and reduce pathological changes in the infected organs. The project will include growing and manipulating Mtb, Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacterium bovis BCG; determination of MIC; macrophage infection studies; proteomics experiments. We will also investigate interaction of drugs with their targets and generate Mtb mutants.

Enquiries

Project Enquiries to gvm4@leicester.ac.uk

To apply please refer to

https://le.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/research-subjects/respiratory-sciences