Project: Regulation of cell adhesion and development of yeast biofilms
Research group: Palková
Back to list
Deadline is closed
PhD thesis will be part of the project focused on studies of molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in development of yeast colonies and biofilms. Previous research revealed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae wild strains form structured colony biofilms composed of specifically localized differentiated subpopulations, which provide the biofilm multiple protections against environment (J Cell Biol 194:679-87, 2011). We have identified Cyc8p and Tup1p as key antagonistic regulators of complexity of colony biofilms (PLoS Genet 14:e1007495, 2018) and, recently, we have found that these regulators are also involved in formation and dispersal of biofilms grown at solid-liquid-interface on plastic. Balancing between the two processes depends on the nutrient composition in biofilm environment and is mediated via Cyc8p (NPJ Biofilms Microbi, revision submitted, 2019). The PhD thesis will focus on identification of other factors (co-regulators, metabolites) involved in Cyc8p/Tup1p mediated regulation of solid-liquid-interface biofilms of wild S. cerevisiae strains, including pathogenic isolates from patients. Function of Cyc8p and Tup1p orthologues in formation of Candida glabrata biofilms will be also analyzed. Spectrum of different approaches will include construction of knockout strains and strains with proteins labeled with fluorescent tags for in situ characterization of specific cell subpopulations using fluorescent and confocal microscopy.
Deadline is closed