Master manipulators: How pathogens use effectors to cause disease (BANFIELDJ21DTP)

Plant diseases are a continuous threat to food production and a major constraint on achieving global food security. Many plant diseases are caused by pathogens that deliver proteins known as "effectors" into host cells to manipulate host function for the benefit of the pathogen. Knowledge of the structure and function of pathogen effector proteins is essential to understanding the fundamental biology underpinning disease, but also provides new opportunities to interfere with disease progression and maintaining healthy plants/crops to feed the world. In this project, the student will investigate how the fungal cereal killer Magnaporthe oryzae uses effectors to cause blast disease of grass crops including rice, wheat and barley. The student will characterise a set of newly identified putative effectors of Magnaporthe oryzae using a variety of biochemical and biophysical techniques, including structure determination. The student will identify the host cells targets of selected effectors from plant tissue, and (1) probe the molecular details of interactions using biochemical and structural approaches, (2) investigate the impact of effector mutants (deletion and structure-led point mutation) on the ability of the pathogen to cause disease on plants. Finally, in an alternative approach to studying plant disease, the student will have the opportunity to pursue immune receptor engineering to determine whether the effector/host target interactions determined above can be used to deliver novel disease resistance. The studentship will involve techniques including cutting edge molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, proteomics, and structural biology. There will also be the opportunity to work with national and international collaborators.

The student will receive expert training in diverse disciplines on a strategically relevant topic, within a stimulating research environment. They will join a team of researchers with shared interests and have access to world-class facilities. Further, it is expected they will attend national and international conferences to present their research.

The Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NRPDTP) is open to UK and international candidates for entry October 2021 and offers postgraduates the opportunity to undertake a 4-year PhD research project whilst enhancing professional development and research skills through a comprehensive training programme. You will join a vibrant community of world-leading researchers. All NRPDTP students undertake a three-month professional internship placement (PIPS) during their study. The placement offers exciting and invaluable work experience designed to enhance professional development. Full support and advice will be provided by our Professional Internship team. Students with, or expecting to attain, at least an upper second class honours degree, or equivalent, are invited to apply.

This project has been shortlisted for funding by the NRPDTP programme. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed on Thursday 7th January, Friday 8th January and Monday 11th January 2021.

Visit our website for further information on eligibility and how to apply: https://biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/

Our partners value diverse and inclusive work environments that are positive and supportive. Students are selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background.