Overcoming the immune system of the host is key to a successful retrovirus infection. Recent advances in the field show that innate and intrinsic immunity provide a crucial barrier to infection. Retroviruses, have developed diverse ways to overcome innate immune mechanisms. Over the last couple of years lentiviral accessory proteins emerged as key players in counteracting intrinsic immune mechanisms. The major focus of our research is to understand how innate immune mechanisms restrict retrovirus infection and analyzing the role lentiviral accessory proteins play in counteracting the cellular defense mechanisms.
Viruses of the HIV-2/SIVsm lineage encode the non-structural protein Vpx. Vpx facilitates the SIV and HIV-1 infection of myeloid cells like macrophages or dendritic cells, where it has been proposed to neutralize the antiviral restriction factor SAMHD1. This project will use gene transfer and proteomics approaches to identify host factors important for SAMHD1 function. We will also characterize the mechanism of the SAMHD1 block and analyze its role in innate immunity.
We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student with a strong background in virology, microbiology, immunology or cell biology. The successful candidate should have a masters degree/ diploma in one of the mentioned fields, good English skills and be willing to be part of our young and ambitious team at the Institute for Virology in Erlangen.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Gramberg
thomas.gramberg@viro.med.uni-
Institut fuer Virologie
Erlangen
Ansprechpartner: Prof. Dr. Thomas Gramberg, thomas.gramberg@viro.med.uni-
No comments:
Post a Comment