Phage plasmids as the key to understanding antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a growing global crisis, causing millions of deaths annually. Mobile genetic elements such as bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) and plasmids (small, circular DNA molecules that replicate independently) play critical roles in microbial evolution and horizontal gene transfer. Plasmids are key vectors of antibiotic resistance, and recent studies reveal “phage-plasmids” (elements behaving as both viruses and plasmids) often carry resistance genes, however, few experimental models exist to study them. We have recently isolated a novel phage-plasmid from soil on the University of York campus. The selected student will investigate this, using comparative transcriptomics to identify functional traits during infection. Differential expression analysis will identify phage and host genes active in different states. Traditional phage assays (induction tests, plaque assays) will complement the sequencing to confirm these mechanisms. This project provides a well-rounded research experience integrating microbiology with bioinformatics. The student will benefit from daily supervision within an active microbiology lab and contribute to regular research meetings. There is significant scope for the student to exercise creativity, planning and adapting experiments as the investigation unfolds. Students will need to find their own accommodation and be expected to present their findings orally at a research day in York on 08th September 2026.