This position is now filled - thank you for your interest in our research

We are recruiting a PhD. student for 2008-2011. 

Funding is available now for a BBSRC studentship in molecular virology.

Closing date for applications 1^st May 2008.

Project title : The function of extensive structured RNA in the evasion of host anti-virus responses

Supervisors : Professor David J. Evans (University of Warwick), Dr. Eugene Ryabov (Warwick HRI), Professor Peter Simmonds (University of Edinburgh)

Introduction : Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites and are therefore involved in a constant ‘arms race’ with their host – the short replication cycles, high yields and variability of the virus allow the rapid evolution necessary to combat the extensive range of anti-viral responses developed by the host.  In the case of large DNA viruses of animals at least one third of the genome is involved in evading or subverting the host anti-virus response.  Small RNA viruses are subjected to many of the same selection pressures but have a much smaller genetic capacity to accommodate proteins to control the host anti-virus activities.  Some of these anti-viral responses are directed against the RNA genome – these include detection of extensive regions of duplex RNA and RNAi-mediated processes.  This prompted us to look for unique characteristics of RNA virus genomes.

Our bioinformatic studies have demonstrated that certain positive-strand RNA viruses of animals and plants possess a high degree of structured RNA throughout their genomes (see reference 1 in further details).  This is predicted to exist as large number of short interrupted stem-loops.  This characteristic – termed Genome-scale Ordered RNA Structure (GORS) – is a feature of animal RNA viruses that have evolved to cause persistent infections of immunocompetent hosts e.g. hepatitis C virus, foot and mouth disease virus.  Intriguingly, GORS is also widespread in plant viruses.  We speculate that GORS may have evolved to escape or subvert host innate responses directed against the virus RNA genome. 

Plant viruses offer an ideal system to analyse the importance of GORS to the virus.  The virus genome of Crucifer tobamovirus (CTV) can be readily manipulated and the virus infects Arabidopsis, the genome of which has been sequenced.  We can therefore study the role of GORS in the life cycle of the virus.  The project will involve a range of molecular approaches (cloning, sequencing, RNA structure analysis, mutagenesis, protein binding studies) which will be conducted in the University of Warwick (http://www.picornavirus.org/).  Plant infection studies will be conducted in the nearby Warwick Horticultural Research Institute. 

Further details of the project are available - applicants are strongly encouraged to read this before asking for further information.  If you then have further specific questions about the project please contact Professor David Evans by e-mail (see link at the bottom of the page) or telephone (024765 74183).

The environment : The successful applicant will join a well-funded group with active research including:

1.    The replication of human enteroviruses, using poliovirus as a model system. 
2.    The identification and characterisation of the cellular receptor used by non-poliovirus enteroviruses to infect cells.
3.    The recombination of enteroviruses.
4.    The identification and function of secondary RNA structure in the genome of hepatitis C virus.

The University of Warwick have a well-established Research Interest Group in Virology with particular research emphasis on pneumoviruses (e.g. respiratory syncytial virus), adenovirus, HIV and influenza.

Eligibility, requirements and application procedure : Normal BBSRC eligibility criteria apply (for further details see the BBSRC website) which means applicants must be ordinarily resident in the UK  (with no restrictions on how long they remain) or ordinarily resident in the UK for three years immediately prior to the start of the studentship.  British nationals automatically satisfy these criteria.  

Applicants must have or expect to obtain a FIRST or UPPER SECOND class degree in a relevant biological subject (or the equivalent for EU applicants).  Laboratory experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, virology or cell biology would be a great advantage.  Applicants must have excellent oral and written communication skills.

All applications MUST be made online following the procedure described at http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/ which includes links to the application form.  The closing date for applications is the 1^st of May 2008, but the award may be allocated before the closing date in exceptional circumstances.  Applications must include a complete CV together with the names of at least two academic referees.  All applicants are asked to explain their interest in this project in a covering letter to accompany their application.