Biomedical Research Center SAS
Topic
Molecular fingerprint of host-uropathogen co-metabolism: a key to early diagnostics of urinary tract infections
PhD. program
biochemistry
Name of the supervisor
Ing. Ľudovít Škultéty, DrSc.
Contact:
Receiving school
Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology
Annotation
Bacterial uropathogens’ secretion of virulence factors and attenuation of host immune system are leading cause of the development of urinary tract infections (UTIs) that affect 150 million people of all ages annually worldwide. The timely and accurate identification of uropathogens is central to managing UTIs. However, common diagnostics like presence of clinical symptoms and urine culturing could be unspecific and time-consuming. First, in in vitro bacteria-renal cells model, we will define a species-specific metabolomics profile reflecting mutual molecular interactions between the uropathogen and the host. Second, we will correlate and quantify the distribution of uropathogen siderophores and quorum sensing molecules with pathological metabolism alterations of lipids, amino acids, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and distribution of antimicrobial peptides of the urinary tract at the regional and subregional level. Third, we will develop a diagnostic tool for early detection of UTIs and co-infections based on the proposed host-metabolic signature in urine.
The interdisciplinary thesis aims to develop an original early diagnostics platform for urinary tract infection diseases based on specific host-uropathogenic interaction and its unique molecular profile.
The interdisciplinary thesis aims to develop an original early diagnostics platform for urinary tract infection diseases based on specific host-uropathogenic interaction and its unique molecular profile.