Understanding the development of avian antigen presenting cells in order to improve natural & vaccine-mediated immunity in chickens

A prestigious PhD studentship is available in memory of a distinguished researcher at The Roslin Institute, Professor Pete Kaiser. The proposed projects reflect the interests of our late colleague in avian biology. The studentship is fully funded for four years, with an enhanced stipend and consumable allocation to attract the strongest candidates. Three projects are offered in the area in which Professor Kaiser was an internationally renowned expert. Selection will be based on the best candidate and their project preference. An obituary recording the life and scientific achievements of Professor Kaiser can be accessed via the link below. Informal enquiries may be made to the supervisors of the advertised projects.

Obituary for Professor Pete Kaiser: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03079457.2016.1251745


Global poultry production is increasing rapidly, especially in developing countries where poultry are a major source of animal protein. While we have a good understanding of how the mammalian immune system develops, this is not the case for birds. Indeed while birds face similar pathogen challenges to mammals, they have a different repertoire of organs, cells, molecules and genes of the immune system1.

To address this deficit in our understanding we have generated a number of transgenic lines of chickens which allow the avian immune system to be visualised and manipulated, including two lines of transgenic chickens in which either all haematopoietic cells (RUNX1-eGFP line) or macrophages (CSF1R-mApple2) can be visualised in embryos and post-hatch birds. Using these transgenic lines have identified different populations of antigen-presenting cells (APC), such as macrophages and classical dendritic cells, and have also produced other immunological tools, such as recombinant growth factors and monoclonal antibodies, that allow us to manipulate these cell populations both in vivo and in vitro3.

To capitalise on these findings, the student will use of a wide range of techniques and have significant training in embryonic manipulation, bioimaging, immunology and bioinformatics making the most of the unique resources of The Roslin Institute to gain further knowledge on when and where these different APC populations develop and how the growth and function of these APC populations can be manipulated in vivo to enhance the generation of acquired immunity to pathogens.

We will test the hypothesis that progenitors of adult APC originate in the embryo and that understanding of the conditions that give rise to these APC populations in the embryo will allow us to manipulate their development and function in the adult.

This hypothesis will be addressed by:

• Observing when and where different APC populations develop in the embryo and how they are maintained in post-hatch birds by the use of embryonic manipulation, lineage tracing and immunofluorescence staining techniques.
• Determining what growth factors influence the development of specific APC populations.
• manipulating the development of specific APC populations to assess their specific contribution to the generation of protective immunity to the pathogen Salmonella Typhimurium.

These date will provide critical information about the early development and subsequent maintenance of avian APC populations that are directly involved in the development of acquired immune responses, which will in turn inform the development of more efficient vaccines and the directed breeding of immunologically robust birds.

Application procedures:
Applications including a full CV with names and addresses (including email addresses) of two academic referees, should be sent to: Liz Archibald, Postgraduate Research Student Administration, The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG. Or emailed to [Email Address Removed].

When applying for the studentship please state clearly the title of the studentship and the supervisors in your covering letter/email.