Development of a computational pipeline to mine phage endolysin sequences from metagenomic datasets

The resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is a growing problem that we need to address, for example, through the development of alternative treatments. Bacteriophages, or phages, the viruses of bacteria, have been proposed as a potential avenue for the treatment of recurring bacterial infections or against multi-resistant bacteria. Even more promising, are proteins encoded by phages, called lysins, that attach to the bacterial cell wall and degrade it, eventually leading to the death of a target bacterium. Their natural diversity, matching the diversity of bacteria, only adds to their potential as a source to develop treatments. The goal of this project is to develop a computational tool to mine phage lysins from phage protein datasets. Such powerful computational tools for the discovery of new phage lysins could lead to the development of new alternative treatments to antibiotics targeting harmful bacteria. This project will combine the expertise of the host institution on lysins and that of the home institution in informatics for the development of a tool that will benefit the research conducted on phages in both institutions, and even more broadly to the research field interested in the development of alternative treatments to antibiotics.

Faculty Supervisor:

Elsa Rousseau

Student:

Partner:

Ghent University

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Education

University:

Université Laval

Program: