Principal Supervisor: Dr Andre Pires da SilvaLink opens in a new window

Co-supervisor: Ioannis Nezis

PhD project title: Diet and reproductive factors influencing ageing

University of Registration: University of Warwick

Project outline:

The roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans is a suitable model for ageing research because of its short lifespan, amenability to genetic manipulation and ease in maintenance in large populations under simple laboratory conditions. Among the factors that influence the lifespan and health span of C. elegans and other organisms are diet and signalling from germline cells. While a diet rich in calories is detrimental to lifespan and healthspan, the removal of the germline cells has the opposite effect. The mechanisms of how these factors regulate lifespan and how they interact with each other are poorly understood.

In this project, the student will investigate the diet components critical for lifespan and healthspan. The questions to be addressed are: which genes modulate lifespan when nematodes are under diet restriction? Are neurodegeneration mutants amenable to the effects of diet and germline removal?

BBSRC Strategic Research Priority: Understanding the rules of life –Stem Cells and Integrated Understanding of Health - Ageing, and Diet and Health.

Techniques that will be undertaken during the project:

RNA interference, CRISPR/Cas9, RNAseq, transgenics, microscopy, computer skills (e.g., R, Python, Linux).

 

Contact: Dr Andre Pires da Silva