Lead Institute / Faculty: Clinical and Experimental Sciences/Faculty of Medicine
Main Supervisor: Professor Ian N. Clarke
Other members of the supervisory team: Dr Colette O’Neill
Duration of the award: 3 Years
Project description:
Chlamydiatrachomatis is the major bacterial cause of urogenital infections with over 100 million cases globally per annum. The majority of these infections are asymptomatic and left untreated can result in ectopic pregnancy, infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease. C. trachomatis is also the leading infectious cause of preventable blindness (trachoma) worldwide.
Chlamydiahave a significantly reduced genome size, consistent with an ancient adaptation to intracellular parasitism of eukaryotic cells [1]. The host cell infection process can fail to complete for many reasons resulting in persistence where cells carry the non-infective Chlamydia at the RB stage [2]. Progress in studying chlamydial biology and genetics has been slow but sincewe have developed atransformationprotocol,genetic manipulation of intracellularchlamydiae is possible [3]. Dissecting the molecular mechanism(s) underlying persistence/chlamydial development may lead to new ways of treatment and removing potential reservoirs for infection. Using C. muridarum as a model system the project will employ atransposon-basedmutagenicsystemtoidentifyessentialgenesand to identifynovelvirulencefactors. An understanding of their role in the unique developmental cycle will lead to deeper understanding of bacterial parasitism, infected host cell biology, and identify novel targets to block infection and/or prevent its spread.
References:
1. Stephens, R.S., et al., Genome sequence of an obligate intracellular pathogen of humans: Chlamydia trachomatis. Science, 1998. 282(5389): p. 754-9.
2. Wyrick, P.B., Chlamydia trachomatis persistence in vitro: an overview. J Infect. Dis, 2010. 201 Suppl 2: p. S88-S95.
3. Wang, Y., et al., Development of a transformation system for Chlamydia trachomatis: restoration of glycogen biosynthesis by acquisition of a plasmid shuttle vector. PLoS Pathog, 2011. 7(9): p. e1002258.
The University of Southampton is a research-intensive university and a founding member of the prestigious Russell Group. Our successes are acknowledged in international and UK league table rankings and with prestigious awards, and we are rated in the top 1% of Universities world-wide. The Faculty of Medicine is vibrant and ambitious, with a leading reputation in research, enterprise and education. With an emphasis on translating new discoveries into healthcare practice, our research covers the spectrum from basic science to clinical innovation. Professor Clarke’s Chlamydia research group is a world-leading research team that is interested in host-pathogen interactions with special emphasis on intracellular pathogens and diseases for which there are currently no effective vaccines. The research group is specialized in chlamydial molecular biology, genomics and evolution.
Please contact: Professor Ian N. Clarke: inc@soton.ac.uk
Or Dr Colette O’Neill: con2r10@soton.ac.uk
Person Specification: Candidates are required to hold (or expect to obtain) a minimum upper-second class honours degree in a relevant subject (e.g. biological sciences, microbiology, genetics, biochemistry).
Please see full person specification below.
Funding notes:The project is funded for 3 years by a University of Southampton, Faculty of Medicine scholarship in Chlamydia research and welcomes applicants from the UK and EU only due to funding restrictions of fees. Funding will cover fees, research, training and support costs, project consumables and a stipend at current MRC research council rates of £14,296 per annum.
Administrative contact and how to apply:
Please complete the University's online application form, which you can find at
https://studentrecords.soton.ac.uk/BNNRPROD/bzsksrch.P_Login?pos=4355&majr=4355&term=201617
You should enter Professor Ian Clarke as your proposed supervisor. To support your application provide an academic CV (including contact details of two referees), official academic transcripts and a personal statement (outlining your suitability for the studentship, what you hope to achieve from the PhD and your research experience to date).
Informal enquiries relating to the project or candidate suitability should be directed to Professor Ian N. Clarke (inc@soton.ac.uk).
Closing date:17/02/17
Interview date: 06/03/17
Closing Date: 17 Feb 2017
Post Type: PhD Studentship (Funded)