Dynamic Imaging for Real-Time Visualization of Bacterial Species Co-Distribution and Biofilm Matrix Components

Dental caries is a severe problem for both health and the economy. This oral disease is multifactorial and biofilm-dependent, caused by changes in the composition and metabolism of complex bacterial communities in oral biofilms. This studentship will explore oral polymicrobial biofilms using the Fluidic Force Microscopy (FluidFM) atomic force microscope (AFM) system to achieve high-resolution imaging. This technology will visualise the structure, arrangement, and interactions of single microbial cells within the biofilm matrix and provide insights into how different bacterial species can impact biofilm architecture. Moreover, FluidFM facilitates the investigation of adhesion forces between biofilm components and tooth surfaces, providing valuable insights into the critical processes of biofilm and pellicle attachment and detachment. Furthermore, it offers the capability to precisely introduce actives into specific regions of the biofilm, monitoring changes in the microenvironment at the nanoscale. Thereby, it will not only gain comprehensive insights into the co-localisation of specific species within the biofilm and biofilm structure, but also facilitate the development and testing of innovative technologies designed to target and disrupt biofilms more effectively. The studentship will exploit a monospecies biofilm model that incorporates the oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans developed in a previous Unilever-UoN collaboration. This project will run in parallel with an NBIC CTP studentship aimed at developing polymicrobial oral biofilm models; taken together the two Unilever supported projects will provide new insights into mechanistic developments and treatment of oral biofilms. The methods employed in this studentship will include cutting edge fluorescent microscopy with AFM, quantitative analysis, analytical science and microbiology. The student will also spend time on placement at Unilever and be exposed to the industrial landscape, providing additional insight into Project Management, R&D Strategy, Regulatory, IP and Marketing.   

 The University of Nottingham provides first class facilities and learning environments supported by expert and dedicated researchers. The supervisors have vibrant research groups hosted in state-of-the-art laboratories within the Cross-disciplinary Biodiscovery Institute (https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/research-areas/biodiscovery-institute/biodiscovery-institute.aspx) and the adjoining Boots Science Building. They are integral to the National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC, https://www.biofilms.ac.uk). NBIC is an Innovation Knowledge Centre (IKC) funded by BBSRC and Innovate UK with the aims of establishing research networks and innovation capacity in the study of biofilms. The project will also benefit from the range of analytical platforms housed within the flagship nmRC facility (https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/nmrc/) at the University of Nottingham.

Training opportunities offered as part of this PhD include advanced imaging and analysis methods such as fluorescent microscopies, fluid force AFM, cryo-orbiSIMS, as well as transcriptomics and molecular microbiology. The NBIC CTP.BITE training (https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/doctoral-training-centre/) delivers an ambitious training programme in biofilm science, engineering and technology as well as in commercialisation. Directly applied business-related training will also occur during the placement at Unilever. In addition, the University of Nottingham offers a host of practical training courses, there is an active research seminar programme and wellbeing support.