Determining an Epigenetic Basis for Immunological Education: Accelerating Immune Responses to Viruses through Genomic Demethylation-Dependent Mechanisms

Due to an immature immune system piglets are highly susceptible to pathogen infections. This becomes particularly problematic under farming conditions where pigs are housed at a high density making pathogen transmission between animals more likely. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a critical role in sensing pathogens and triggering early immune responses that help clear an infection within a host. TLRs are activated by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), which are conserved elements from infectious agents including viruses and bacteria. This PhD studentship will determine if exposure to such molecules can help a key immune cell, the macrophage, respond more rapidly and effectively when exposed to major endemic pathogens that infect pigs in the British farming industry. The pathogens to be studied during this studentship will be porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRSV) and influenza A (IAV) viruses and the bacterium, Salmonella typhimurium.

Important immune response genes will be measured in cultured macrophages to establish their activation following PAMP stimulation and whether this process is controlled by epigenetic mechanisms including genomic demethylation. Subsequent macrophage infection with PRRSV, IAV or Salmonella typhimurium will determine if pre-treated macrophages respond more rapidly than untreated controls and if this helps pathogen clearance and/or antigen presentation.

The successful candidate will benefit from supervision by an experienced team of scientists spanning two world class research institutes and will be trained in a number of techniques to successfully determine the role played by epigenetic modification in the immunological education of porcine macrophages. These methodologies will encompass several distinct fields of the biological sciences including virology, bacteriology, immunology, epigenetic and genomic techniques. It is envisaged that the student will acquire essential and readily transferable skills required for a well-rounded and knowledgeable scientist. Applicants are expected to have a research interests in infectious diseases, immunology, transcriptomics and/or epigenetics. Previous laboratory experience will be an advantage.