PhD Research Project

My Shortlist0

This project is no longer listed in the FindAPhD database
and may not be available.

Click here to view other PhD studentship opportunities at University of Liverpool.

The development of a Fc-fusion platform as an novel antigen delivery system for vaccination against pneumococcal colonisation and invasive pneumonia

Institution:

University of Liverpool

Dept/School/Faculty:

Institute of Infection and Global Health

PhD Supervisor:

Prof A Kadioglu

Co-Supervisor:

Prof R Pleass

Application Deadline:

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Availability:

Self-Funded PhD Students Only

PhD Research Project

Click here to visit the University of Liverpool website

Short outline of research project

Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is a major human pathogen and principle cause of bacterial pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis worldwide. The pneumococcus is a major cause of infant mortality in developing countries, causing approximately 25% of all preventable deaths in children under the age of 5, with an annual burden of over 1.2 million infant deaths. New targets for therapy and vaccination are urgently required.

This project will investigate the efficacy of various new vaccine candidate pneumocococcal virulence factors in nasopharyngeal colonisation and invasive disease. Fc-fusion proteins have successfully been used to immunise against HIV andHSV viruses (Ye et al, Nature Biotechnology 2011, 29: 158-163). This project aims to investigate this Fc-fusion platform as an antigen delivery system for vaccination against pneumococcal colonisation and invasive pneumonia.

Funding Notes:

The student needs to have full funding from their sponsor for tuition fees, stipend and bench fees to cover all laboratory consumables costs.

Training element

The project involves cloning bacterial antigens into Fc-fusion plasmid constructs, mammalian cell expression and immunisation studies in mouse models of colonisation and invasive pneumonia as well as determining host immune responses to infection and immunisation. A wide range of molecular, bacteriological, immunological and cutting edge imaging techniques will be used in this PhD project.

FindAPhD Scholarship available for this PhD opportunity!

We are offering nine Postgraduate Study Scholarships for students wishing to start a PhD in autumn 2013 at any European (EU) institution. Click here for more information on how to register to win a FindAPhD Scholarship.