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PhD Fellow Lactobacillus biofilms

Organization: TI Food and Nutrition

Location: Wageningen, Netherlands

Field: Food and Nutrition

Requirements:

The ideal candidate has a background (MSc) in one of the Life Sciences/Microbiology and has experience with genomics/transcriptomics approaches. He/she should have good communication skills both in writing and speaking.

Abstract:

Within the Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN) we are looking for a PhD fellow for the sub-project “Lactobacillus biofilms”. The project aims at understanding the factors contributing to biofilm formation by microbes and the generation of genotypic and phenotypic diversity. This sub-project will be carried out within the “Biofilm Life Cycle” project of the TIFN research theme Food Safety.

Description:

Within the Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN) we are looking for a PhD fellow for the sub-project “Lactobacillus biofilms”. The project aims at understanding the factors contributing to biofilm formation by microbes and the generation of genotypic and phenotypic diversity. This sub-project will be carried out within the “Biofilm Life Cycle” project of the TIFN research theme Food Safety.
Many microbes have the capacity to adhere to surfaces and reside in biofilms. Microbes embedded in biofilms often display increased resistance towards antimicrobial treatments. To the food industry, these biofilms are problematic as their presence on surfaces of processing equipment are extremely difficult to eradicate and can act as a persistent source of product contamination thereby causing premature spoilage, product loss, and depending on the microbe involved, safety issues. Although frequently associated with its beneficial role in fermentations, Lactobacilli can be a concern for the food industry as spoilage-causing microbes in various food products. Contamination with Lactobacilli can occur from raw products or from processing lines where they may reside in biofilms. In this sub-project, mechanisms involved in biofilm formation, development of heterogeneity within biofilms and resistance and outgrowth performance of biofilm cells will be studied. This will be assessed by using Lactobacillus plantarum as model strain and factory and food isolates of Lactobacillus ssp.
As a PhD candidate you will contribute to unraveling factors involved in biofilm formation by Lactobacillus ssp. which may provide new leads to prevent domestication and establishment of these biofilms. Specific objectives linked to the Lactobacillus biofilms project are:

  • To select and characterise biofilms of model strains and industrial isolates
  • To assess the impact of growth modes (fermentative and (an)aerobic) on biofilm forming capacity of the model strain and industrial isolates
  • To provide mechanistic understanding of biofilm formation, maintenance and development
  • To identify factors contributing to resistance of evolved strains

 

Deadline: 30-04-2011

Contacts:

Link: http://www.academictransfer.com/employer/TIFN/vacancy/7973/lang/en/

Email: masja.nieropgroot@wur.nl

Email: personnel@tifn.nl

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