Morphological adaptation of the Leishmania parasite for mammalian infection

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Department of Biological and Medical Sciences

This is a competitive 3 year Full Time PhD project

Eligibility: Home UK/EU applicants only ---- (who must be permanently resident in UK/EU)

Start Date: September 2018

Value p.a.: Bursary of approximately £14500 for Academic Year 2018/19 & fees


Title of proposed project:
Morphological adaptation of the Leishmania parasite for mammalian infection

Brief description of project:
Leishmania is a eukaryotic parasite that causes the devastating disease leishmaniasis that affects millions of people worldwide. Leishmania has a complex life cycle alternating between an insect vector and a mammalian host. In the insect vector there are two major forms of the parasite: first, the proliferative form called a promastigote which then differentiates into the mammalian infective second form called a metacyclic. The metacyclic form is required to establish a mammalian infection; however, there is a lack of information about the morphology and underlying structural adaptations that enable this crucial stage to infect mammals.
The aim of this project is to understand the morphological adaptations the Leishmania metacyclic form has acquired in preparation for life in the mammalian host. This project will use cutting-edge 3D electron microscopy techniques to define the ultrastructure of the metacyclic form in detail. In parallel, protein markers of key cytoskeletal structures (flagellum, collar, etc.) will be tagged and changes in their organisation will be examined during metacyclic differentiation. Cytoskeletal proteins identified in the TrypTag project (tryptag.org) will be knocked out using CRISPR/Cas9 genetic tools to generate morphological mutants, which will then be assessed for their ability to differentiate into the metacyclic form.

Key words: Leishmania, Parasite, Host-pathogen, Morphology, CRISPR/Cas9, Microscopy

For further details and informal enquiries please contact main supervisor:
Dr Jack Sunter [Email Address Removed]

Requirements:

Applicants should be of the highest quality and capable of submitting a PhD thesis within 3 years. Applicants should have a first class or upper second class (minimum 2.1) honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or an acceptable equivalent qualification.

EU Applicants additional requirement for English language
A valid IELTS Academic test certificate minimum score level 6 in each of the four areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking with overall minimum score 7.0 issued since 12 January 2016 by an approved test centre.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/491093/2016-01-11_-Approved_Secure_English_Language_Tests_and_Test_Centres_-_Website.pdf

Exceptionally we are prepared to consider alternative acceptable evidence of English Language ability.


How to apply:


With application enclose a CV and scanned copy of your degree certificates and transcripts plus two signed academic references. Additionally if appropriate an IELTS Academic test certificate from an approved test centre.

Applications only accepted by e-mail [Email Address Removed]