PHD Gastrointestinal Health NBI

Gurkha soldiers are less likely to develop traveller's diarrhoea during overseas deployment, compared to UK-born soldiers. The University of Birmingham have identified differences in the bacterial composition of the gut between these populations of following a period of time in the UK. Gurkha soldiers have a gut microbiota that is distinct from UK-born soldiers, primarily due to a higher abundance of Prevotella copri, which may explain the reduced incidence of traveller's diarrhoea. This Tasking will build on this preliminary work by determining how the microbiome (bacterial and viral as a minimum) changes over time (and post GI disturbances) following a period of overseas deployment. Ultimately, this could lead to modulation of the gut microbiota of soldiers and may aid in the prevention of traveller's diarrhoea when deployed overseas.