Meaningful microbiomes: Investigation of host-microbiome interactions in liver fluke infections

The problem: Drug resistance currently threatens the control of helminth parasite infections in food producing animals, constituting a serious threat to global food security. Liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) is a highly pathogenic trematode parasite infecting cattle, sheep and goats, to which widespread drug resistance has been reported. As a result, research is focusing on the identification of novel strategies to improve control of these infections. One key approach is the identification of factors which impact upon the host's immune response to infection; in particular, gut commensal bacteria have been identified as playing an important role in regulating such responses.

The approach: In this project the student will, for the first time, provide a detailed examination of the impact of F. hepatica infection on the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota, metabolites and host immune responses in sheep. A range of state-of-the-art sequencing (microbial 16S rRNA amplicon and RNA seq), and metabolite detection techniques (nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gas/liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) will be employed by the student to profile host responses to infection. Following this, bioinformatics analyses and advanced biostatistical data integration techniques will be developed to identify host-parasite-microbiome associations at different stages of F. hepatica infection. This study will contribute significantly to our knowledge of the role of the GI microbiome in immune responses to F. hepatica infection, and will form the basis of future studies aimed at improving our control of this economically important parasite.