Given the increasing incidence of antimicrobial resistance and the cunning evolution of microbes via horizontal gene transfer, existing antimicrobial agents are demonstrating limited efficacy. Although researchers have focused on marine invertebrates as sources of potent antimicrobials, concerns have been raised regarding the sustainability of this approach. The realisation that marine- and plant-associated microorganisms are potent producers of allelochemicals, which play a role in microbial ecology and the well-being of the macro-organism host has triggered research towards the microbiome of these organisms. Marine and endophytic bacteria produce a diversity of antimicrobial, anti-virulence compounds to ensure the well-being of their host organism under diverse environmental conditions. The antagonistic interactions of metabolites synthesised by these bacteria prevent or limit colonisation of exogenous bacteria including pathogens, either by killing the invaders, by preventing their settlement or by interrupting the quorum sensing.

The projects will explore screening of microbes from marine and plant sources as potential candidates with antimicrobial and/or anti-virulence properties. This project aims to carry out a function-based screening of marine-associated bacteria for drug discovery, focusing more on their anti-virulence potential. Candidate microorganisms will be screened, undergo a de-replication process, large-scale fermentations followed by chemical analyses. A metagenomics approach will also be followed in parallel to identify silent operons of secondary metabolites as well as anti-virulence genes, which could potentially serve as novel therapeutic options.Using a combination of phenotypic screening, aided by genomic analyses, applying a metabolic approach and employing combined biomedical and biotechnological efforts, it would be possible to exploit the diversity of marine/plant microbial life and their associated secondary metabolites. The utopian goal is to isolate, identify and characterize novel bioactive metabolites from marine microbes which would be utilized for controlling human and veterinary diseases and overcoming the effects of multi-drug resistant microorganisms, either through antimicrobial effects or by their anti-virulence effect in shutting down essential microbial communication involved in pathogenesis.

Students with a background in Microbiology, Genetic, and/or Bioinformatics are invited to apply by submitting a letter of motivation and CV with two Referees (minimum) to Dr. Hafizah Y. Chenia (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Ideal candidates should be motivated, with strong research background, computer-literate with good scientific writing and presentation skills, and an unlimited curiousity.

Closing date for applications – 15th December 2014.

Enquiries:
Dr. Hafizah Y. Chenia (PhD)
Discipline: Microbiology (Westville Campus)
School of Life SciencesCollege of Agriculture, Engineering and Sciences
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Private Bag X54011
Durban, 4001