Effect of vaginal microbiota on human sperm function

• Funding – self-funded/externally sponsored applicants   (PhD Fees can be found here)
• Applications are accepted year round
• Standard Entry dates – January and September
• Applicants are expected to have a degree (equivalent of Honours or Masters) in a relevant discipline.

Infertility is linked to dysbiosis in female reproductive tract but individual microbes responsible for infertility have not been established. In a pilot study, we collected vaginal swab from several women and isolated 15 unique microbial taxa. Two microbial taxa were isolated from multiple women. We found that conditioned media from one of these bacteria affected total and hyperactivated sperm motility on purified spermatozoa from human males. We hypothesize that secreted or volatile factors from FRT microbiota affects (i) sperm motility, (i) sperm viability, or (ii) sperm hyperactivation. This PhD project will involve the identification of soluble and volatile molecules from FRT microbiota by liquid chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry respectively. Subsequently, the PhD student will study sperm viability, total motility, hyperactive motility as well as ability to penetrate through cervical mucous analogue (in Kraemer assay). This study will be conducted in collaboration with investigators at the Reproductive Medicine Research Group (RMRG) at University of Dundee. 

Impact: The outcome of this focussed study will help identify specific factors affecting sperm function. Variants of such molecule could be new generation of non-hormonal contraceptives. This would be developed in future in collaboration with Drug Discovery Unit at University of Dundee.

The student will acquire training in microbiology, LC-MS, GC-MS, microscopy and various sperm motility and hyperactivation assays. The student will receive training in scientific writing, statistics and data management. The student will also receive mentoring support in an inclusive environment.