Dr Natalie Garton

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester

Scientific Background

Research Interests

I investigate bacterial lipid metabolism, with particular emphasis on Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the agent of tuberculosis, and my work may open up new opportunities for drug development and infection control. My research focuses on how disease-causing species utilise the lipids of infected host cells, and how this impacts the bacterial metabolism and lipid content, particularly accumulation of lipid bodies. I aim to understand differences in neutral lipid metabolism between different strains. During infection, the resulting bacterial lipid composition and related physical characteristics, may affect bacterial properties likely to have an impact on disease transmission and the treatment of infection. My interest in characterising lipid bodies and associated metabolic pathways extends to the distantly related equine pathogen Rhodococcus equi and Gram negative, nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. Both these pathogens persist in the environment and the role of lipid bodies in supporting this is under investigation.

Understanding how mycobacteria enter into and adapt to the aerosol state and how this may impact infectivity is an additional interest.

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Supportive, detail-orientated, organised.

Provision of Training

I would be involved in your initial training and training in specialised techniques. I would have the expectation that you would become more independent thereafter, but I would always be available for advice and guidance if needed.

Progression Monitoring and Management

We will discuss progression in supervision meetings and set goals together. Ultimately, I would like to set your own goals for progression and I will support and guide you in this. Problems will be discussed together to plan best ways forward.

Communication

I respond promptly to e-mails and messages. I am also happy to discuss in person any problems or issues you may be having with, or that might impact your research. I use a shared server space where protocols and data can be shared in the group.

Meetings

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me at least once per week. These meetings will be face to face. I have an open door policy, though my pattern of being contactable for an instant response is not predictable.

Work Pattern

Certain tasks in my lab need to occur at set times, and students need to be able to commit to a rota/timetable shared with other members of the team.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 1 week’s notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Primary supervisor for:

Understanding the roles of triacylglycerol in modulating mycobacterial growth and biophysical properties

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Understanding the roles of triacylglycerol in modulating mycobacterial growth and biophysical properties

Secondary Supervisor(s): Professor Galina Mukamolova

University of Registration: University of Leicester

BBSRC Research Themes: Understanding the Rules of Life (Microbiology)

Project Outline

Mycobacteria contain more lipid than other bacteria. Lipids are responsible for properties e.g. low permeability and are central as reserves of carbon and energy to fuel metabolism and growth. In the host, in response to growth limiting factors e.g. nitrosative stress, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the agent of tuberculosis (TB), enters a state of low metabolic activity arresting growth, accumulating triacylglycerol lipid bodies (TAG LB) and forming differentially culturable (DC) cells undetectable with standard culture. Tolerant to the action of antibiotics, DC and TAG LB-rich Mtb impact TB treatment.

Mtb H37Rv (lab strain) is TAG-poor during growth. Growth arrest leads to TAG synthase (tgs1) expression and TAG accumulation, that can be assimilated in growth-permissible conditions. TAG export (increasing envelope content) is proposed to modulate growth by regulating TAG accumulation. However, clinical isolates of Mtb have variable tgs1 expression and TAG LB content during growth. It is not known if this represents reduced capacity to respond to growth-arresting stimuli, impacts potential recovery following relief of these stresses, or DC bacteria formation.

Lipid content influences physical properties, for example cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) and lipid accumulation enhances buoyancy. This may alter aerosolisability or host cell interaction, influencing transmission and pathogenic potential.

To understand the roles of mycobacterial TAG in influencing growth and biophysical properties, different species, strains and key mutants of TAG synthesis, assimilation or transport will be used in experimentation.

Objectives:

Determine if TAG LB content impacts response to growth-arresting stimuli and later regrowth.

Determine if TAG represents a dynamic metabolic pool in growth, with fatty acid flux measurement through various lipid fractions.

Measure cytoplasmic and cell envelope TAG content and associated biophysical properties, such as CSH and buoyancy

CASE: Rapid Characterisation of Mycobacterial Populations Using Bacterial Electrophysiology

See the Industrial Collaboration PhD Studentships page to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

CASE: Rapid Characterisation of Mycobacterial Populations Using Bacterial Electrophysiology

University of Registration: University of Leicester

Non-academic partner: Dr Magdalena Karlikowska (Cytecom Ltd), Dr James Stratford (Cytecom Ltd), Noah Tattersall (Cytecom Ltd)

Secondary Supervisor(s): Professor Galina Mukamolova

Project Outline

Persisters are phenotypically distinct bacterial subpopulations tolerant to antibiotics. Slow, or non-growing, with low metabolic activity, persisters are responsible for prolonged and recurrent infections. Mechanisms of persister formation, survival and reactivation are not well understood and their enumeration is challenging. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) persisters make treatment of tuberculosis (TB) long and complex, increasing relapse risk. Mtb persisters have phenotypes, such as lipid accumulation, or failure to grow in routine culture (differentially culturable). Current methods to detect these populations are challenging taking up to 12 weeks.

Bacteria generate electrical charge difference across their membranes, known as membrane potential (MP), powering essential processes like growth and division. When stimulated electrically, bacteria respond in predictable ways: proliferating cells increase their MP, while dead or dying cells lose it. These electrodynamic responses can be detected using MP-dependent fluorophores. Cytecom has developed instruments that use this approach to assess bacterial vitality within minutes, eliminating the need for lengthy culture-based methods, and are advancing this for antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Aim: To understand how electrophysiology could inform characterisation of mycobacterial sub-populations, including persisters, and impact of these on responses to antimycobacterial agents.

Objectives:

Optimise optical electrophysiology methods for testing mycobacteria.

Develop data analysis pipelines to assess the proliferative potential of mycobacterial subpopulations.

Culture mycobacteria, including Mtb, to promote persister-like phenotypes and characterise them by electrophysiology, culturability, lipid content and antibacterial susceptibility.

This project will deliver faster tools to study Mtb persisters, supporting drug development and improving treatment of TB, the infectious disease with highest global mortality.

Application

Deadline: 27 November 2025.

To apply for a CASE studentship, please check your eligibility and complete the MIBTP application process.

Please ensure that you:

Apply directly to the University of Leicester
Clearly state you are applying for a CASE project and stipulate the project title
Please also complete the online ED&I formLink opens in a new window