Uncovering the viral and cellular components that dictate the neurological outcome of tick-borne encephalitis virus infection

Summary

The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2024/25.

Research in the Goonawardane lab is focused on the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underly viral persistence and variable disease outcome for emerging RNA virus infections. The lab uses a range of multidisciplinary yet complementary approaches to gain insight into how arboviruses (mainly tick-borne viruses) establish infection in the human brain. The lab employs the latest 3D human mini-brain organoids and BBB-models to achieve these aims. This fundamental understanding is used to identify new therapeutic avenues and scalable diagnostic tools for tick-borne arbovirus infection.

Cases of Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) are increasing due to climate change. TBEV infects the brain causing neurological symptoms during the secondary stages of disease. TBEV was recently detected in ticks resident in the UK, and its emergence has continued. This has led to epidemics of viral encephalitis on a global scale. Despite this, no effective anti-TBEV therapeutics are available and current diagnostics are limited to late disease stages, once the virus has entered the brain. New anti-viral strategies are therefore urgently required.

Studies in the Goonawardane lab use the latest 3D human brain organoids as platforms to investigate key features of TBEV infection. An important question we are keen to address is how this differs between strains of contrasting neuropathology. Sophisticated ex vivo human mini-brain organoids and microfluidic BBB-organ models are used to provide the most physiological platforms to study natural infection in the brain. These technologies combined with the state-of-the-art nano-resolution imaging aim to identify: (i) viral protein localisation, (ii) the interaction of host and viral proteins and (iii) changes in host gene expression using proteomics and transcriptomics. These experiments will inform as to how viral and cellular factors shape TBEV neuropathogenesis and reveal new targets for anti-viral drug discovery.

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher, for example, several faculties, also require a Masters degree. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.