University Of Surrey PhD Studentships In Dissecting The Immunosuppressive Effects Of Marek’s Disease in UK 2022
Oncogenic viruses have evolved various mechanisms to escape immune control and promote tumour development. One such mechanism is the activation of pathways leading to metabolic changes that can influence physiological and immunological activities in the infected individuals; in some viral infections this manifests itself as the production of Prostaglandins which manipulate immunological responses against both viruses and tumours.
Our group has shown that Marek’s disease virus, an avian oncogenic virus, induces the expansion of novel regulatory T cells in infected chickens, and this may explain the immunosuppression observed in these birds (Gurung et al. PLoS Pathogen 2017). We have also shown that Marek’s disease virus activates metabolic changes (Boodhoo et al. Journal of Virology 2019, Boodhoo et al. Journal of Virology January 2020, Boodhoo et al. Journal of Virology September 2020), including the production of Prostaglandins. Marek’s disease virus expresses over 80 different viral proteins in the infected cells. Based on this information, the Ph.D. candidate will use in vitro systems to identify the gene(s) of Marek’s disease virus which activates regulatory T cells via induction of Prostaglandins.
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 utilized in this project.
Supervisors:
- Dr Shahriar Behboudi, The Pirbright Institute
- Dr Natalie Riddell, University of Surrey
- Co-supervisor – Dr Ajit Patil, The Pirbright Institute
RELATED LINKS
Dr Shahriar Behboudi, The Pirbright Institute Dr Natalie Riddell, University of Surrey The Pirbright Institute
ADDITIONAL NOTES
The student will be based primarily at The Pirbright Institute and registered with the University of Surrey. The student will visit the university to meet with their supervisors and undertake training or complete specific project tasks as required. Highly subsidized Pirbright Institute student housing will be offered. A full range of research and transferrable skills training will be made available to the student as appropriate.