Dr A Roberts, Dr R Twarock
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Astroviruses are of both medical and veterinary importance with vaccines or therapeutics currently unavailable. The molecular biology of these viruses is currently poorly understood and will be important in future control efforts. In common with other viruses Astroviruses must enclose their genome in a protein capsid. To achieve this, other +ssRNA viruses utilise multiple RNA:capsid protein interactions to provide specificity of genome encapsidation and to ensure the correct and efficient assembly of intact mature capsids as a key step in the viral infection cycle. In collaboration between the Pirbright Institute and the Twarock Group at the University of York we wish to establish the molecular basis of genome encapsidation by Avian Nephritis Virus, a member of the Avastrovirus genus. Following on from work performed on other viruses by the Twarock group and collaborators, this studentship will examine the interactions of viral genomic RNAs with their cognate capsid proteins. For this, a variety of molecular and structural techniques will be used to generate molecular and biochemical data to inform computational modelling of the molecular processes underpinning ANV genome encapsidation, which will in turn provide new insights and experimental avenues to pursue to understand this process.
Funding Notes
This is a BBSRC fully funded project. Eligible students will receive minimum stipend £13,863 p/a; university registration fees will be paid. Open to science graduates (with, or who anticipate obtaining, a BSc 2.1 or equivalent, in a relevant biological subject, or Masters degree - subject to university regulations). Other first degrees, eg veterinary science, considered. A fully funded studentship only open to UK students and eligible EU students who qualify for home-rated fees, in line with BBSRC criteria: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Guidelines/studentship_eligibility.pdf.
Students without English as a first language must provide evidence of IELTS score of 7.0, no less than 6.5 in subsections.
References
1. E.C. Dykeman, P.G. Stockley & R. Twarock (2014) Solving a Levinthal’s Paradox for Virus Assembly suggests a novel anti-viral therapy, PNAS; 111, 5361-6.
2. P.G. Stockley, R. Twarock, S.E. Bakker, A.M. Barker, A. Borodavka, E.C. Dykeman, R.J. Ford, A.R. Pearson, S.E. Phillips, N.A. Ranson & R. Tuma (2013) Packaging signals in single-stranded RNA viruses: nature's alternative to a purely electrostatic assembly mechanism. J. Biol. Phys; 39, 277-87.
3. Koci MD, and Schultz-Cherry S (2002) Avian Pathology; 31(3):213-227.