Call for Master Thesis
Applicants:
Please e-mail your CV along with contact addresses to Susanne Bloch, PhD or Ao.Univ.Prof. Christina Schäffer
Short summary of project
The oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans is the major bacterium associated with dental caries. In the oral cavity, S. mutans exists as a member of multispecies biofilms known as dental plaque.
S. mutans produces a number of compounds, among them mutanobactins and mutanofactins, that enable it to survive in the multispecies biofilms and compete with other streptococci. Mutanobactins additionally act as interkingdom communication signals by affecting yeast-to-hyphae transition and therefore biofilm formation in the yeast Candida albicans. Mutanofactin has only recently been discovered and influences biofilm formation by S. mutans by acting as „molecular glue“.
FISH staining of Candida albicans (red) in a multispecies oral biofilm
Aims
Analyse the effect on synthetically produced mutanobactin and mutanofactin on select members of the oral microflora in mono- and multispecies biofilm experiments
Methods
Cultivation of anaerobic bacteria (BS-L2) in an in vitro multispecies biofilm model, DNA extraction, RT-qPCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization, confocal microscopy, SEM.
Requirements
The candidate should be focused on the field of biotechnology, microbiology, biochemistry or related studies. We appreciate highly motivated students who are excellent team players with the ability to work independently under supervision in an interdisciplinary and very friendly research environment.
We offer
Motivating scientific environment at BOKU, cutting edge research in glycomicrobiology, weekly seminars and learning of various techniques. Participation in workshops and international conferences are possible.
Start: any time right now; Duration: ~6 months
Department for Nanobiotechnology/ NanoGlycobiology, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien