Dr S Behboudi, Dr N Riddell, Dr Nitin Kamble
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Regulatory T cells suppress many different immune cells and thus they are involved in immune modulation to inhibit inflammatory responses. Some pathogens activate expansion of regulatory T cells to escape immune control, however the mechanism involved in the induction and expansion of regulatory T cells by pathogens is not understood.
Marek’s disease virus causes a lymphoproliferative disease in chickens and causes transformation of lymphocytes. Our group has shown that infection with Marek’s disease virus induces expansion of novel regulatory T cells in the infected chickens, and this may explain immunosuppression observed in these birds (Gurung et al. PLoS Pathogen 2017). We have also recently shown that Marek’s disease virus activates metabolic changes in the infected cells (Boodhoo et al. Journal of Virology 2019 and Boodhoo et al. Journal of Virology January 2020, Boodhoo et al. Journal of Virology September 2020). The studentship will investigate the mechanism involved in induction and activation of regulatory T cells by the virus and determine the role of metabolites produced by the infected cells in induction of regulatory T cells.
The student will join a successful, motivated multidisciplinary team with expertise in cellular and molecular immunology, virology and metabolism. A combination of cellular and molecular immunology as well as classical virology techniques including flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, metabolic analysis, molecular biology and gene silencing will be utilised in this project.
TO APPLY: Full details of how to apply can be found on our website - click Institution Website.
For informal enquiries regarding this project please email the project supervisors noted above.
For enquiries regarding eligibility and the application process click Email Institution.
Funding Notes
This is a fully funded studentship open to science graduates with, or who anticipate obtaining, at least 2.1 or equivalent in relevant biological subject in undergraduate degree, or a Masters degree - subject to university regulations. Open to UK students and eligible EU students who qualify for home-rated fees - see Residential Eligibility Guidelines on website. Eligible students will receive minimum stipend £15,285 pa, plus cost of living allowance £2,200 pa; university fees will be paid. Students without English as first language must provide evidence of IELTS average score of 7.0 (no less than 7.0 listening/reading, 6.5 speaking/writing).
References
1. Boodhoo N, Gurung A, Sharif S, Behboudi S. Marek’s disease in chickens; a review with focus on immunology. Veterinary Research, 2016 November 28: 47(1);119.
2. Gurung A, Kamble N, Kaufer B, Pathan A, Shahriar Behboudi. Association of Marek’s Disease induced immunosuppression with activation of a novel regulatory T cells in chickens, PLoS Pathogens, 2017, 13 (12), e1006745.
3. Boodhoo N, Kamble N, Kaufer BB, Behboudi S. Replication of Marek’s disease virus is dependent on de novo synthesis of fatty acid and Prostaglandin E2. J Virol. 2019 Jun 14;93(13).
4. Boodhoo N, Kamble N, Sharif S, Behboudi S. Glutaminolysis and Glycolysis are essential for optimal replication of Marek’s disease virus. J Virol. 2020 Jan 31;94(4).
5. Boodhoo N, Kamble N, Behboudi S. De Novo Cholesterol Biosynthesis and Its Trafficking in LAMP-1 Positive Vesicles Are Involved in Replication and Spread of Marek’s Disease Virus, J Virol. 2020 Sep. In press.
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