Funded PhD Studentship: Interrogating the invasive slipper limpet, Crepidula fornicata, as a potential reservoir of infectious disease

Project supervisors:

Supervisor (1) - Dr Christopher J. Coates (Biosciences) http://www.swansea.ac.uk/staff/science/biosciences/c.j.coates/

Co-supervisor (2) - Prof Andrew Rowley (Biosciences) http://www.swansea.ac.uk/staff/science/biosciences/a.f.rowley/

Project description

The arrival of the marine, invasive non-native species (INNS), Crepidula fornicata, to the coasts of South Wales has had substantial negative impact on local waterways, fish hatcheries, and shellfish beds (e.g. oyster and scallop). Environmental costs involving disruptions to the ecosystem structure, function and biodiversity have extended to social impacts including risks to human health and safety, recreational opportunities and cultural heritage. Despite these concerns, C. fornicata has not been screened for the presence/absence of pathogenic/parasitic organisms or toxins, which may be hazardous to human health. Research is needed urgently to improve our understanding of this non-native species, and, how their spread and disease ecology may be exacerbated by future climate change regimes.

The aim of the studentship is to conduct a combined whole organism, cellular and molecular screen of C. fornicata for pathogenic and parasitic diseases, as well as toxins associated with food poisoning in the Irish and Celtic Seas. The studentship is intended to:

develop a forensic toolkit for quantitative/qualitative assessment of ‘compromised’ Crepidula,
isolate into axenic culture and evaluate the (cyto)toxicity of newly identified (emerging) pathogens and toxins using mammalian cell culture lines and commercially important shellfish species considered to be ‘at risk’ (e.g. edible crabs, mussels, cockles etc.)
monitor the disease ecology of Crepidula annually (over 3 years) - seasonal variation associated with documented parasite lifecycles.
The project will be developed in collaboration with other partners involved in work package 4 of the INTERREG Ireland-Wales BLUEFISH project (http://irelandwales.eu/projects/bluefish).

This post is part-funded by the BLUEFISH Operation; an Ireland Wales Programme 2014-2020 for the Irish and Celtic seas focussing on cross border collaboration, climate change and community engagement.

Eligibility:

Candidates must have a first, upper second class honours or a Master’s degree (with Merit), in a relevant discipline. Boat experience and some experience on the use of molecular/cellular methods applied to invertebrates would be desirable but not essential as the student will be fully trained and will join the Comparative Immunology and Aquatic Pathobiology Laboratory.