Project No. 2376

Primary Supervisor

Prof Vladimir Jiranek – University of Southampton

Co-Supervisor(s)

Prof Campbell Gourlay – University of Kent

Summary

Yeast are single-celled and non-motile. On solid (agar) media a single cell yields a population that piles-up to form a tightly packed, hemispherical colony visible to the naked eye.

In some cases, cells instead spread widely in a mat-like biofilm comprising cells attaching to the surface and each other in a self-produce viscous matrix. Alternatively, colonies can broadcast hyphal-like structures comprised of chains of elongated cells, which not only spread across an agar medium but also invade it. Biofilms are more resistant to antimicrobial therapies and chemical stress aiding population survival, as too are filamentous and invasive growth, which are also vital to the virulence of many pathogenic yeast. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind the architecture of biofilms, and filamentous and invasive growth, as well as the triggers for initiation and development of these has huge potential to impact on the detrimental and beneficial aspects of yeast in many contexts.

This project will utilise Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the workhorse of the baking, brewing/wine and biofuel industries, to study why, how and when these yeast switch to a biofilm, filamentous or invasive mode of growth, and how these structures develop. This knowledge will be harnessed to improve antifungal strategies for pathogenic yeast as well as to enhance targeted processes within diverse industrial fields that are key to achieving a net zero economy, such as biofuel, recombinant protein and mycoprotein production and crop yield enhancement.

The project will utilise advanced microbiological, genetic engineering and high-resolution microscopy and image analysis techniques to understand the impact of nutrient availability, signalling compounds, and growth medium on the development of yeast multi-cellular structures in S. cerevisiae as well as other relevant yeast species.