Disease remains a key constraint to the sustainability of Atlantic salmon aquaculture in the UK and globally. Improving knowledge of the mechanisms of immunity in this species is therefore central to combating viral, microbial and parasite-mediated disease and to the development of new tools to prevent infection and reduce the impacts of disease upon fish health and welfare.
The principal objective of this PhD project is to better characterise the barely-explored diversity of immune cell types / lineages present in Atlantic salmon using a range of molecular, histological and immunological approaches. Central to this work is the use of high-throughput single cell RNAseq to provide transcriptomic signatures for cells derived from key immune-related tissues, mucosal portals of entry or other tissues subject to infection or inflammation. The student will create single cell RNAseq tissue libraries for a range of developmental states and disease challenges (e.g. sea louse infection, amoebic gill disease infection) / disease models and, following high throughput sequencing, use bioinformatic techniques to cluster cell profiles displaying similar transcriptomic signatures. A range of techniques will be used to capture particular cell populations (e.g. antibody capture / FACS) and to explore aspects of immune-cell distribution (e.g. by fluorescent in situ expression hybridisation / spatial transcriptomics), cell lineage development, and functional roles in development and immunity.
The outputs of this ambitious project include a classification schema for teleost immune cells, a step-change in understanding of immune cell types of Atlantic salmon and teleosts more widely and a range of new tools for fish disease and immunity researchers including discriminant cell markers. The new knowledge created will provide prospects for future impacts in fish histopathology, fish vaccinology, selective breeding, functional feeds / immunostimulants and resultant improved management and control of infectious diseases in aquaculture.
Successful candidates will have the opportunity to work within internationally recognised teams at Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling and Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh and to receive training in cutting-edge molecular and immunological techniques. Both research groups focus on applied aspects of aquatic biology having direct applications in the UK and global aquaculture industry.
Potential students should hold a good UK bachelor’s degree (first or upper second-class honours degree), an MSc degree or equivalent international qualifications in an immunology / molecular biology / disease-related subject area.
Formal enquiry can be directed to Professor James Bron at [Email Address Removed]
Application forms and Reference Request forms can be downloaded at this link: http://www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/how-apply-0
Completed forms should then be sent to Moira Maron at [Email Address Removed]
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