Structure and function of the accessory Sec system in gut symbionts

The human body harbours a diverse and dense population of commensal bacteria, which exerts key functions in terms of nutrition and health. However, the precise mechanisms of how our beneficial intestinal microbes interact with the host remain largely unknown. In this project, you will use a trans-disciplinary approach including structural biology, molecular microbiology, glycobiology and animal models to decipher the pathways dedicated to the secretion of glycosylated adhesins by gut symbionts and their role in colonisation and biofilm formation.
This PhD project will provide mechanistic insights into host-microbe interactions in the gut and help rationally design probiotic-based strategies to promote human health and fight against infection and antimicrobial resistance.