About the Project
Project Background
Social organization facilitates contacts between individuals and affects parasite transmission (Perkins et al., 2009). Consequently, social animals have evolved mechanisms to mitigate the risks of infection. One such mechanism could be based on changes in ‘smell’ between infected and uninfected individuals. Both non-infectious and infectious diseases are known to change volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profiles in livestock, wildlife and humans (Penn and Potts, 1998; Balseiro and Correia, 2006) and female mice use smell to discriminate males infected with e.g. influenza virus, the protozoan, Eimeria vermiformis, and the nematode, Heligomosomoides polygyrus from uninfected males (Kavaliers and Colwell 1995, Penn et al. 1998; Ehman and Scott 2001). In our parasite-cockroach colony system we have shown that distinct scents are associated with infection. However, parasites may also have evolved to exploit and/or manipulate host behaviour to improve transmission (Moore, 2002). As such, epidemics may themselves drive contact network patterns.
Apiculture worldwide has been threatened by the emergence of infectious diseases (e.g. European and American foulbrood, varroa mite, and several viruses), with effects ranging from reduction in honey productivity to full colony collapse. Using honeybees as a model system we aim to investigate the effect of pathogen load, virulence, mode of transmission on contact networks and the role of ‘smell’ as a mechanism that alters how epidemics progress in social networks.
Project Aims and Methods
The project will combine VOC analysis with detailed behavioural observations. The research aims:
1) to determine if the odour of infection is a mechanism driving infectious disease dynamics and
2) to tease apart the directional effects of contacts between infected and uninfected individuals – e.g. avoidance of infected individuals by uninfected individuals or manipulation of host odour by the parasite.
Air samples from in-situ collection of animals and colonies will be analysed with TD-GC-MS-TOF and behavioural experiments will analyse social network avoidance behaviours of infected and uninfected individuals using behavioural software such as ‘Ethovision’.
The findings of the project will elucidate key mechanisms in disease transmission and deliver a novel approach to monitoring infections in apiculture and potentially infections in general.
The candidate will have opportunity to engage actively in experimental design and to liaise with stake holders e.g. beekeepers and beekeeper organisations.
Candidate requirements
A background in Biological Sciences or Zoology would be desirable. The project will require the candidate to develop skill in analytical chemistry, statistical and modelling methods, which are critical for the project.
CASE partner
Markes International is a leading manufacturer of thermal desorption equipment and GCxGC technology and TOF mass spectrometers. Markes will provide additional training on and access to state-of-the-art analytical technology and provide insights into the business of analytical science instrumentation.
Training
The student will receive specialist training in VOC profiling, including instrumental analysis on TD-GC-MS-TOF, data processing and statistical evaluation using multivariate methods such as PerMANOVA, CAP, RandomForest and WGCNA. Markes International will host the students on placements (3 to 18 months) to receive specific training or access to capabilities or expertise not available in the academic environment. Co-supervisor Perkins will train the student in experimental design and network analysis. The candidate will join both the Müller lab meeting and Perkins’ disease focused ‘CRIPES’ group; a fortnightly meeting of interested faculty/students discussing key concepts in the ecology of infectious diseases. These groups will provide a forum for group feedback and student mentoring. The candidate will receive training in the production of manuscripts from the PhD committee. The candidate will have opportunity to liaise and collaborate with our stakeholders; bee keepers and bee keeper organisations.
Funding Notes
This studentship will provide the student with a stipend for 3.5 years of approximately £15,500 p.a., payment of their university tuition fees, a Research and Training and Support Grant (RTSG) of £11,000 and an individual training budget of £3,250.
The individual training budget of £3,250 are funds made available by the DTP to each student to undertake specialist training relating to their project and career development and to pay for travel and accommodation on all courses.
References
Perkins, S. E., Cagnacci, F., Stradiotto, A., Arnoldi, D. & Hudson, P. J. 2009. Comparison of social networks derived from ecological data: Implications for inferring infectious disease dynamics. Journal of Animal Ecology, 78, 1015-1022.
Kean, E. F., Bruford, M. W., Russo, I.-R. M., Müller, C. T. & Chadwick, E. A. 2017. Odour dialects among wild mammals. Scientific Reports, 7, 13593.
Ehman, K. D., & Scott, M. E. (2001). Urinary odour preferences of MHC congenic female mice, Mus domesticus: Implications for kin recognition and detection of parasitized males. Animal Behaviour, 62(4), 781–789.
Penn, D., & Potts, W. K. (1998). Untrained mice discriminate MHC-determined odors. Physiology & Behavior, 64(3), 235–243.
Useful links
Dr Sarah Perkins: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/people/view/81249-perkins-sarah
Dr Carsten Müller: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/people/view/81237-muller-carsten
Markes International: https://www.markes.com/
ELIGIBILITY:
The studentship is open to UK and Irish nationals. International and EU students are also eligible to apply but should note that they may have to pay the difference between the home UKRI fee (https://www.ukri.org/skills/funding-for-research-training/)) and the institutional International student fee (https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/tuition-fees).
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants should possess a minimum of an upper second class honours degree, master's degree, or equivalent in a relevant subject.
Applicants whose first language is not English are normally expected to meet the minimum University requirements (e.g. 6.5 IELTS)
HOW TO APPLY:
This studentship has a start date of October 2021. In order to be considered you must submit a formal application via Cardiff University’s online application service. (To access the application system, click the 'Visit Institution' button on this advert)
There is a box at the top right of the page labelled ‘Apply’, please ensure you select the correct ‘Qualification’ (Doctor of Philosophy), the correct ‘Mode of Study’ (Full Time) and the correct ‘Start Date’ (October 2021). This will take you to the application portal.
In order to be considered candidates must submit the following information:
• Supporting statement
• CV
• Qualification certificates
• Proof of English language (if applicable)
• 2 references
• In the research proposal section of the application, please specify the project title and supervisors of the project and copy the project description in the text box provided. In the funding section, select “I will be applying for a scholarship/grant” and specify advertised funding from NERC GW4+ DTP. If you are applying for more than one Cardiff University project, please note this in the research proposal section as the form only allows you to enter one title.
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