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Dr Kyriaki Nomikou, Dr F Jaafar
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
The outer-capsid protein VP2 of bluetongue virus is the primary determinant of serotype and a target for neutralising antibodies that are generated during infection. Variations in VP2 are therefore of major importance for bluetongue diagnosis, epidemiology studies and vaccine development.
The specificity of neutralising antibodies generated during bluetongue virus infection or vaccination, demonstrates the existence of type-specific epitopes (on VP2), that provide a basis for development of rapid, next generation assays to identify antibody-type-specificity. Such assays would be of considerable utility to Blue Tongue Virus (BTV) reference laboratories (including the NVRL at Pirbright). However, the cross-reactivity observed after multiple inoculations or infections with different BTV types also indicates the existence of other cross-reactive neutralising epitopes, that might form a basis for the development of cross-reactive sub-unit vaccines.
The Lomonossoff group at John Innes (UEA) has transiently-expressed animal virus proteins (including BTV VP2) quickly and easily in plants, retaining their immunological properties. The relevant gene was inserted into an Agrobacterium tumefaciens binary vector and using the technique of “agro-infiltration” the construct was introduced into plants. The rapidity of expression coupled to the high yield means that it is possible to express multiple proteins in a short time frame.
The expressed VP2 proteins will be used to test different reference and experimental antisera, to explore relationships between the different BTV types using luminex or Magpix platforms. The project will also generate modified or truncated proteins to identify cross-reactive or type specific neutralising epitopes. These reagents and an improved understanding at the molecular level of BTV serotype determinants and cross reactivity.
Full details of the project and criteria for selection are available on The Pirbright Institute website.
http://www.pirbright.ac.uk/students/Studentships.aspx
The specificity of neutralising antibodies generated during bluetongue virus infection or vaccination, demonstrates the existence of type-specific epitopes (on VP2), that provide a basis for development of rapid, next generation assays to identify antibody-type-specificity. Such assays would be of considerable utility to Blue Tongue Virus (BTV) reference laboratories (including the NVRL at Pirbright). However, the cross-reactivity observed after multiple inoculations or infections with different BTV types also indicates the existence of other cross-reactive neutralising epitopes, that might form a basis for the development of cross-reactive sub-unit vaccines.
The Lomonossoff group at John Innes (UEA) has transiently-expressed animal virus proteins (including BTV VP2) quickly and easily in plants, retaining their immunological properties. The relevant gene was inserted into an Agrobacterium tumefaciens binary vector and using the technique of “agro-infiltration” the construct was introduced into plants. The rapidity of expression coupled to the high yield means that it is possible to express multiple proteins in a short time frame.
The expressed VP2 proteins will be used to test different reference and experimental antisera, to explore relationships between the different BTV types using luminex or Magpix platforms. The project will also generate modified or truncated proteins to identify cross-reactive or type specific neutralising epitopes. These reagents and an improved understanding at the molecular level of BTV serotype determinants and cross reactivity.
Full details of the project and criteria for selection are available on The Pirbright Institute website.
http://www.pirbright.ac.uk/students/Studentships.aspx
Funding Notes
This is a fully funded project but only open to UK students or EU students who qualify for home-rated fees in line with BBSRC criteria
http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Guidelines/studentship_eligibility.pdf.
The successful applicant will receive the RCUK minimum of £13,590 but there may be additional funding depending on location and degree.
Where English is not the applicant's first language they must provide evidence of English Language score of IELTS level 7 or equivalent.
Interested applicants must have or be confident in achieving a 2:1 or higher in a biological sciences degree (or a Master degree in biology or virology)
http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Guidelines/studentship_eligibility.pdf.
The successful applicant will receive the RCUK minimum of £13,590 but there may be additional funding depending on location and degree.
Where English is not the applicant's first language they must provide evidence of English Language score of IELTS level 7 or equivalent.
Interested applicants must have or be confident in achieving a 2:1 or higher in a biological sciences degree (or a Master degree in biology or virology)
References
1. Maan S., Maan N.S, Samuel A.R., Rao S, Attoui, H., & Mertens P.P.C (2007) Analysis and Phylogenetic Comparisons of Full-Length VP2 Genes of the Twenty-Four Bluetongue Virus Serotypes. Journal of General Virology 88:621-630.
2. Maan NS, Maan S, Belaganahalli MN, Ostlund EN, Johnson DJ, Nomikou K, Mertens PP. (2012). Identification and differentiation of the twenty six Bluetongue virus serotypes by RT–PCR amplification of the serotype-specific genome segment 2. Plos One PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e32601. Epub 2012 Feb 28. Doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0032601
3. Sainsbury F, Sack M, Stadlmann J, Quendler H, Fischer R, Lomonossoff GP. (2010) Rapid transient production in plants by replicating and non-replicating vectors yields high quality functional anti-HIV antibody. PLoS One. 2010 Nov 12;5(11):e13976.
2. Maan NS, Maan S, Belaganahalli MN, Ostlund EN, Johnson DJ, Nomikou K, Mertens PP. (2012). Identification and differentiation of the twenty six Bluetongue virus serotypes by RT–PCR amplification of the serotype-specific genome segment 2. Plos One PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e32601. Epub 2012 Feb 28. Doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0032601
3. Sainsbury F, Sack M, Stadlmann J, Quendler H, Fischer R, Lomonossoff GP. (2010) Rapid transient production in plants by replicating and non-replicating vectors yields high quality functional anti-HIV antibody. PLoS One. 2010 Nov 12;5(11):e13976.
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