Enhancing female resilience to sleep loss via nutritional supplementation

Project Overview

This project investigates the biological mechanisms underpinning resilience to sleep loss, with a particular focus on sex differences and the role of oxidative stress. Sleep disruption is a major public health concern, associated with impaired cognition, immune dysfunction, and increased metabolic and inflammatory risk. A growing body of evidence indicates that sleep loss leads to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and that this oxidative burden is a causal driver of adverse health outcomes rather than a passive by-product. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a genetically tractable model organism, this research tests the central hypothesis that females exhibit greater resilience to infection induced sleep loss due to tighter regulation of ROS, and that this resilience can be mimicked or enhanced through targeted nutritional antioxidant interventions.

The project combines behavioural, genetic, transcriptomic, and nutritional approaches across three integrated aims. First, ROS dynamics and sleep behaviour will be characterised in male and female flies during bacterial infection and mechanically induced sleep deprivation. Fluorescence based ROS detection methods will be paired with high throughput behavioural monitoring using ethoscope tracking to directly link oxidative load with changes in sleep and activity.

Second, the molecular mechanisms underlying female resilience will be identified by comparing male and female transcriptional responses to infection. Candidate antioxidant and redox regulating pathways will be functionally tested using the GAL4UAS system to genetically overexpress or knock down key enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione transferases. This will establish causal links between specific molecular pathways, ROS regulation, and susceptibility or resilience to sleep disruption.

Third, the project evaluates the efficacy of oral nutritional antioxidants, in mitigating infection induced sleep loss. Supplement ingredients will be tested for their ability to restore sleep in susceptible males and to modulate ROS associated pathways. Translation beyond the fly model is embedded through an industrial placement at Unilever R&D Port Sunlight, where candidate ingredients will be assessed in preclinical human intestinal models, including Caco2 systems and/or organon chip platforms, to measure ROS responses in a human relevant context.

Broader and future implications: This research will deliver mechanistic insight into how oxidative stress links sleep disruption, immunity, and sex specific health outcomes. By providing proof of concept that nutritional antioxidants can reinforce resilience to sleep loss, it establishes a strong translational foundation for the development of sex informed, ingestible wellbeing interventions. In the longer term, the findings could inform personalised nutrition strategies, support innovation beyond traditional sleep aids, and contribute to improved approaches for managing the health consequences of chronic sleep insufficiency, particularly in women’s health and wellbeing.

Entry Requirements & Criteria

Applications are invited from outstanding candidates with a first or upper-second class honours degree and a masters degree in an area relevant to the project [microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, immunity].

Candidates must have experience conducting research in a laboratory environment. Knowledge of standard microbiological practices, bioinformatics, molecular biology techniques and/or experience working with Drosophila would be highly advantageous but are not required.

Find out more about our entry requirements here.

Applicants from outside of the UK are required to provide evidence of their English language ability. Details can be found on our English Language requirements page. 

How to Apply - Applications submitted directly to Unilever

Formal applications must be submitted through Unilever's online form by the stated deadline for consideration.

Informal enquiries about the project can be sent to Dr Vincent at c.vincent@qmul.ac.uk. Enquiries about eligibility should be directed to the postgraduate research officer at d.seymour@qmul.ac.uk.

Apply Online

The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences is committed to promoting diversity in science; we have been awarded an Athena Swan Silver Award. We positively welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

References

1. Irwin, M.R. (2019). Sleep and inflammation: partners in sickness and in health. Nat Rev Immunol, DOI: 10.1038/s41577-019-0190-z.
2. Reutrakul, S., & Van Cauter, E. (2018). Sleep influences on obesity, insulin resistance, and risk of type 2 diabetes. Metabolism, DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2018.02.010. 
3. Tobaldini E, et al. Sleep, sleep deprivation, autonomic nervous system and cardiovascular diseases. Neurosci Biobehav Rev, DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.07.004.
4. Yamamoto, S. et al. (2014). A drosophila genetic resource of mutants to study mechanisms underlying human genetic diseases. Cell, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.09.002. 
5. Vaccaro, A. et al. (2020). Sleep loss can cause death through accumulation of reactive oxygen species in the gut. Cell, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.04.049. 
6. Klein, S.L. & Flanagan, K. L. (2016). Sex differences in immune responses. Nat Rev Immunol, DOI: 10.1038/nri.2016.90. 
7. Vincent, C. V. & Dionne, M.S. (2021). Disparate regulation of IMD signaling drives sex differences in infection pathology in Drosophila melanogaster. PNAS, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2026554118. 
8. Torrens-Mas, M. et al. (2020). Sexual hormones regulate the redox status and mitochondrial function in the brain. Pathological implications. Redox Biology, DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2020.101505. 
9. Vincent, C.M. et al. (2022). Sex differences in infection-induced activity and sleep disruption in Drosophila. PLOS Biol, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010826. 
10. Scialo, F. et al. (2020). Mitochondrial complex I derived ROS regulate stress adaptation in Drosophila melanogaster. Redox Biology, DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2020.101450.

See Also

• Entry Requirements
• Fees and Funding