Dr Laura Glendinning

Chancellor's Fellow

Biography

Background

Understanding the impact of the microbiota in animals

The microorganisms that live in animals (the microbiota) play vital roles in disease resistance, and in helping animals extract nutrients from their feed. My group explores the composition and function of these microbial communities in various species. 

I graduated from the University of Leeds in 2011 with a BSc hons in medical microbiology. After briefly working in industry I went on to do a masters by research at the University of Edinburgh, followed by a PhD at The Roslin Institute. My PhD focussed on the composition and dynamics of the sheep lung microbiota. I joined Mick Watson’s group as a research fellow (core scientist) in 2018. In 2022 I joined Andy Law's group as a research fellow. In 2023 I became a Chancellor's Fellow at the University of Edinburgh.

Qualifications

PhD: University of Edinburgh (Oct 2013 – Sep 2017).

Thesis: The sheep lung microbiota.

 

Master of Science by Research: University of Edinburgh (Oct 2012 – Sep 2013).

Project: The association of schistosomiasis with the gut microbiota during treatment.

 

BSc (Hons) Medical Microbiology– University of Leeds (Sep 2008 – Jul 2011)

Responsibilities & affiliations

Member of University of Edinburgh Senate (2024-current)

Member of committee B for 25RM2 BBSRC Responsive Mode panel (2025)

Member of committee A for 24RM2 BBSRC Responsive Mode panel (2024)

Member of the academic advisory board for CEAM (Centre of Excellence for Agrifood Microbiomics) at Queen's University Belfast (2024-current)

Member of UKRI Interdisciplinary Assessment College panel (2023-current)

Member of UKRI pool of experts (2024-current)

Member of Agence Nationale de la Recherche: CE20 - Biology of animals, photosynthetic organisms and micro-organisms panel. (2024-current)

Easter Bush Equality and Diversity Committee: (2021-current) 

Easter Bush Mental Health Committee: (2021-current): Member

Easter Bush Staff Peer support Scheme organizer: (2020-current)

Associate fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

Yes

Research summary

My group researches the functional relationships between the microbiota, host and environment in various animal species, with a particular focus on avians. 

Current research interests

1) Creating and characterising metagenome assembled genomes from livestock species: While increasing progress has been made in culturing members of the microbiota there are still many members which have not been characterised. Metagenomics is a powerful tool which allows us to examine the entire genetic repertoire of the microbiota without the need for culturing. Using this approach, I have constructed and characterised metagenome assembled genomes from chicken, red deer, reindeer and cow samples, identifying hundreds of new species. 2) Fibre fermentation in the avian caecum: In many areas of the world chickens are fed high-quality grains which are high in starch and low in fibre. However, when they are fed low-quality, high-fibre grains they perform substantially less well, gaining less weight for the same amount of food. This is important, because as the human population continues to grow we will need to reserve high-quality grains for human consumption. Importantly, while chickens themselves are not capable of digesting fibre, several of their gut bacteria are capable, and in doing so provide molecules which the chicken can use to produce energy. Manipulating the microbiota to be more efficient at digesting fibre could therefore make chickens more efficient at extracting energy from feeds which are high in fibre. 3) The impact of the microbiota on immunity: Differences in the microbiota can impact chicken health, and can lead to changes in the adaptive and innate immune responses. Changes in microbiota composition can help shape immune development in the gastrointestinal tract in both chickens and humans. The immune responses within the respiratory system can be affected by either the respiratory microbiota itself or through the gut-lung axis. I am interested in the effect of microbial transplantation on the immune response to vaccination of chickens.

Past research interests

- The sheep lung microbiota - The impact of anti-helminthic treatment on the gut microbiota

This article was published on