PhD Study : ​Maternal butyrate in obesity: implication for insulin and glucose metabolism in offspring

Apply and key information  

Summary

Childhood obesity and children being overweight are on the increase, with the UK having the highest prevalence of childhood obesity in Europe. Overweight and obesity, two conditions of excessive fat accumulation, have been linked in humans with a number of adverse effects on health e.g., adverse metabolic responses in blood pressure, triglycerides cholesterol, and insulin resistance thereby increasing the risk of coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke and type II diabetes mellitus. Hence, dietary measures, in particular dietary supplements that can modulate the metabolism via influence on host’s gut microbiota have become popular.

Previous  studies have shown that oral butyrate can prevent and treat diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in high-fat diet mouse models via the stimulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) coactivator (PGC-1a) activity and the secretion of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) in the gut (Liu et al 2018) However,Huang et al (2017) in their study on lean pregnant rats have shown that oral administration of butyrate over the time of full gestation and lactation led to the increased level of serum insulin and intramuscular triglyceride in skeletal muscle of offspring at weaning, thus leading to insulin resistance and ectopic lipid accumulation in skeletal muscle of offspring.

To our knowledge there is no data available on the effects of maternal butyrate on insulin sensitivity, and glucose metabolism in the offspring in obese females. Thus, this project will investigate the effects of maternal oral butyrate on insulin and glucose metabolism in the offspring of obese females to assess oral butyrate effects  in the offspring.

Methods to be used

This project will utilise methods and techniques that are well established within the research groups involved (Immunology, Microbiology and Diabetes) and ranging from in vivo studies (including e.g.  the use of a Comprehensive Laboratory Animal Monitoring System) through analytical work e.g.: metabolic assays such as glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test, enzyme-linked immunoassays, RNA extraction and real-time PCR for mRNA quantification. Full training will be provided in these and other relevant techniques to enable the candidate to successfully complete the programme of research.

Impact

Tackling obesity and diabetes, especially in children are WHO priorities that requires a multifaceted approach. One of our current problems is the lack of understanding of mechanisms behind obesity and diabetes at the time of early development in humans.

This project will answer the question as to if and how dietary butyrate fed to an obese mother affects metabolism of the offspring and, in the long term this project will help to formulate nutritional advice for pregnant women.

This project will be based at the Centre for Molecular Biosciences (CMB) and The Biomedical and Behavioural Research Unit (BBRU) both located at Ulster University Coleraine campus.

Please note: Applications for more than one PhD studentships are welcome, however if you apply for more than one PhD project within Biomedical Sciences, your first application on the system will be deemed your first-choice preference and further applications will be ordered based on the sequential time of submission. If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be interviewed only on your first-choice application and ranked accordingly. Those ranked highest will be offered a PhD studentship. In the situation where you are ranked highly and your first-choice project is already allocated to someone who was ranked higher than you, you may be offered your 2nd or 3rd choice project depending on the availability of this project.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

  • Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
  • Clearly defined research proposal detailing background, research questions, aims and methodology

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

  • Completion of Masters at a level equivalent to commendation or distinction at Ulster
  • Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
  • Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
  • Work experience relevant to the proposed project
  • Publications record appropriate to career stage
  • Experience of presentation of research findings
  • A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
  • Relevant professional qualification and/or a Degree in a Health or Health related area

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

  • Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
  • Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
  • Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

  • Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
  • Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
  • Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
  • Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

Recommended reading

​Den Besten, G., Bleeker, A., Gerding, A., van Eunen, K., Havinga, R., van Dijk, T.H., Oosterveer, M.H., Jonker, J.W., Groen, A.K., Reijngoud, D.J. and Bakker, B.M., 2015. Short-chain fatty acids protect against high-fat diet–induced obesity via a PPARγ-dependent switch from lipogenesis to fat oxidation. Diabetes, 64(7), pp.2398-2408.

Fu, X., Liu, Z., Zhu, C., Mou, H. and Kong, Q., 2019. Nondigestible carbohydrates, butyrate, and butyrate-producing bacteria. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 59(sup1), pp.S130-S152.

Huang, Y., Gao, S., Chen, J., Albrecht, E., Zhao, R. and Yang, X., 2017. Maternal butyrate supplementation induces insulin resistance associated with enhanced intramuscular fat deposition in the offspring. Oncotarget, 8(8), p.13073.

Liu, H., Wang, J., He, T., Becker, S., Zhang, G., Li, D. and Ma, X., 2018. Butyrate: a double-edged sword for health? Advances in Nutrition, 9(1), pp.21-29.

Naughton, V. and Naughton, P.J. (2017). Ex vivo murine gut model for screening of antibacterial properties of probiotic strains. Proceedings of 9th Conference Probiotics, Prebiotics New Foods, Nutraceuticals and Botanicals for Nutrition & Human and Microbiota Health. Universita Urbaniana, Rome, Italy, p.98 ​

Naughton, P.J. and Naughton, V. (2018). Mouse gut model to investigate the anti-microbial properties of Lacobacillus Rhamnosus. Proceedings of 6th World Congress on Targeting Microbiota, Porto, Portugal, p. 93.

The Doctoral College at Ulster University

Key dates

Submission deadline
Monday 28 February 2022
12:00AM

Interview Date
April 2022

Preferred student start date
mid September 2022

Applying

Apply Online  

Contact supervisor

Dr Violetta Naughton

Other supervisors