Survival strategies of Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV)

Applications are invited to work with this tripartite research group on an exciting 3-year PhD studentship within a multidisciplinary and integrated research team. It will involve a period of work in the laboratories at AHVLA and PHE Porton.

Rift Valley Fever (RFV) is a zoonotic vector borne disease that has recently expanded its geographic range out of Africa, raising concerns that it could spread to Asia and Europe. The aim of this project is to understand the survival mechanisms of the causative agent, Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV) in a temperate environment. The principal objectives will be:

(i) To determine the role of temperature on virus-host interactions and RVFV transmission
This will investigate in vitro growth of virus in different mosquito cell-lines over a range of temperatures. Innate responses to infection will be assessed alongside the effect on the host cytoskeletal components using confocal microscopy. This element of the project will inform downstream in vivo studies using different mosquito species.

(ii) To assess the competence of UK mosquito species to maintain and transmit RVFV isolates. This will directly address the question of RVFV persistence within a temperate environment. A range of RVFV isolates will be provided by Public Health England, Porton.

(iii) Investigate methods of RVFV persistence. The survival of infected female mosquitoes and transovarial transmission will be investigated.
Using in vitro models, this project will investigate virus-host interactions using virus-protein visualisation techniques (confocal microscopy) and methods including partial and full genome sequencing (Next Generation Sequencing) to monitor virus control of host function by RVFV. Susceptibility to different RVFV isolates of different mosquito species (in vitro and in vivo) will be measured using common vector competence indices: mosquito midgut infection, viral dissemination to secondary mosquito tissues, and transmission by analyzing mosquito saliva. Based on successful outcomes in previous aims, a mouse infection model will be developed to investigate virus interaction with the host innate and adaptive immune system. This model will also be used to investigate virus persistence within the vertebrate host.

We’re looking for a highly motivated person with a passion for vector-borne disease research and who holds at least an Upper Second Class Honours Degree in biological sciences, or has a veterinary or medical degree. The successful applicant will be registered with the University of Surrey, be based in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University, and will spend time at the laboratories at AHVLA Weybridge and PHE Porton.

Supervisors and Institutes:

AHVLA Nick Johnson, Tony Fooks
PHE Roger Hewson, Miles Carroll
University of Surrey Daniel Horton, David Blackbourn

PLEASE NOTE - A research proposal is NOT required