This PhD records leprosy skeletal lesions in modern animals to create a model to detect ancient animal cases from archaeological contexts. Leprosy has affected humans for thousands of years and despite global eradication efforts, it stubbornly remains in impoverished populations. This persistence may relate to a recent finding that leprosy can persist in wild animals; genetic and archaeological research has highlighted human-animal transmission through the identification of the same disease strain in early medieval humans, modern armadillos, and British red squirrels. This suggests that there are significant parts of leprosy’s natural history that are unexplored, including the role of human-animal interaction in disease transmission. However, at present, there is no published knowledge on leprosy in past animal populations because we do not know how the disease manifests in their skeletons. As such, we do not know what to look for in the archaeological record to trace these transmission events.
This interdisciplinary PhD will fill this gap by working on modern armadillos and red squirrels known to have Mycobacterium leprae infection to create a model of skeletal involvement. This model will be used to find archaeological cases from historic sites with known leprosy links. Infection will then be confirmed using biomolecular techniques.
Key research questions include:
- What skeletal lesions are present in infected animals?
- Do skeletal lesions vary between animals and how does this relate to their biology?
- Where do we find archaeological cases of animal leprosy?
- What does the archaeological context of the cases tell us about potential modes of transmission in the past?
This will be the first study to assess osteological indicators of leprosy in non-human animals in any discipline, making it highly novel. This research will allow us to improve our understanding of animal leprosy in the past, and to begin to identify important social behaviours and practices that permitted transmission. This is highly relevant for modern disease eradication efforts, where animal involvement is not yet considered.
Methodology
The PGR will assess modern squirrel and armadillo bones genetically identified as having Mycobacterium leprae. All bones will be examined for skeletal lesions associated with osteological inflammation (osteomyelitis, osteositis, periostitis), and absorption associated with nerve damage to create a diagnostic model. Bones of zooarchaeological rodents and armadillos from multiple sites with a known history or link to leprosy, or potential for high human to squirrel/armadillo interaction will be examined. This will include leprosaria, sites with human leprosy cases in cemeteries, and sites with modern endemicity in animals. The PGR will assess British zooarchaeological collections with evidence for fur processing, one possible mode of transmission, and American locations where people are processing armadillos. To test the diagnostic model efficacy, any bones with lesions characteristic of leprosy will be genetically tested to confirm the presence of the bacteria. The context of positive samples can be used to identify possible past transmission routes.
We are seeking an enthusiastic, open-minded person who is inquisitive and has a passion for interdisciplinary thinking. It is desirable for the candidate to have good working knowledge of skeletal anatomy. A background in a biology-based discipline is desirable, and a master degree or significant experience in an osteology based subject or in veterinary, pathology, epidemiology, or infectious diseases, would be advantageous. The candidate would need to be comfortable working with osteological material and soft tissue in various states of preservation in a lab setting. The candidate needs to be a team-player who is able to manage collaborations with international project partners.
The candidate will:
- develop their skills in academic writing and research;
- build on existing skills in (or demonstrate willingness and aptitude to learn) zooarchaeology, palaeopathology and epidemiology of leprosy;
- develop skills that will allow them to work independently in a laboratory setting and with biomolecular approaches;
- develop a model that will allow us to identify lesions relating to leprosy in animal models, and apply this to archaeological cases.
Activities will include weekly project meetings, readings groups, travelling abroad for sampling, and attendance at workshops and conferences. The successful candidate will join a vibrant and supportive environment at SAAH with multiple PGRs and ECRs with complementary projects, a new research cluster focusing on ‘Intersectional Bodies’, and strong interdisciplinary links across the Institution. Simultaneously, the PGR will have close links with the UKRI-FLF funded ‘Tobacco, Health and History’ project which applies a strongly interdisciplinary approach to researching health in the past.
Entry Requirements:
Applicants are required to hold/or expect to obtain a UK Bachelor Degree 2:1 or better in a relevant subject or overseas equivalent. The University of Leicester English language requirements may apply
How To Apply
Please refer to our How to Apply information at
https://le.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/funded-opportunities/future-100-phd-ri
With your application, please include:
- CV
- Personal statement explaining, briefly, your interest in the project and your experience ( If you apply for two projects include a statement for each project on the same document)
- Degree Certificates and Transcripts of study already completed and if possible transcript to date of study currently being undertaken
- Evidence of English language proficiency, if applicable
- In the reference section please enter the contact details of your two academic referees in the boxes provided or upload letters of reference if already available.
You can apply for a maximum of 2 projects.
For each project you want to be considered for:
- In the Supervisor Section: Enter the Project Reference for each project you want to be considered for (the Project Reference is on the project listing above and on the project description document)
- In the Project Title Section: Enter the Project Title for each project in order of priority (e.g. Project 1, Project 2)
In the Funding Section: Enter Future 100 Scholarship or select Future 100 Scholarship from the drop down menu.
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