Research assistant (praedoc) (m/f/d) - Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin - Institut für Immunologie

Job description:
As members of the German Research Foundation (DFG)-funded Research Training Group (GRK) 3096 “One Health Approach to Soil-Transmitted Helminths,” successful applicants will work on scientific projects in an interdisciplinary manner within a structured program. The projects address the three “One Health” aspects: 1) human roundworm infections (close cooperation and fieldwork in Kenya/Africa), 2) roundworm infections in farm animals (chickens and pigs in Germany), and 3) environmental factors (sociological and economic field studies in Kenya and Germany). The GRK will thus incorporate human, animal, and environmental aspects into the research and training of candidates in order to train “One Health” infectious disease specialists. After four years of training in the structured doctoral program and the acquisition of at least 30 CP, candidates have the opportunity to obtain a certificate for the successful completion of a graduate school.
The two projects of the Institute of Immunology (P4 and P5) focus on the following aspects:
P4: Mechanisms of pathogen-host microbiome interplay
Intestinal worms live in an environment with millions of bacteria in the intestines of their hosts. The project aims to understand whether and how intestinal roundworms cooperate with, combat, or exploit the bacterial intestinal environment. So far, we have found that i) roundworms release products with antimicrobial activity, ii) regardless of the intensity of infection, they reduce the diversity of the host microbiome at the site of infection, and iii) the bacteria found in the parasite's intestine originate from the host's intestine. In addition, roundworms were found to release bioactive metabolites (short-chain fatty acids). Based on these findings, the project will focus on the functions of these bioactive metabolites of the worms and their modulation of host cells. State-of-the-art techniques such as mass spectrometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and next-generation sequencing will be applied. Samples for analysis will be obtained from pig and chicken studies in Germany and, in parallel, from a study in an Ascaris endemic area in Kenya. In summary, the project will analyse the mechanisms of bioactive metabolites from roundworms across species boundaries.
P5: Age-dependent immune responses in Ascaris infections
Resistance to Ascaris infections depends on T helper 2 (Th2) cells, which produce the cytokines IL-4, -5, and -13. Our work with intestinal nematodes in mice has shown that the number of IFN-γ-competent T helper 1 cells (Th1) increases significantly from juvenile to adult animals, which hinders efficient parasite defence. Furthermore, we were able to show that natural Th2 dominance in the intestinal mucosa of newborn pigs changes to Th1 dominance within a few weeks after birth and that pigs infected with Ascaris develop strong systemic Th1 responses after weaning, while Th2 responses are only moderate. Based on these findings, the project aims to determine the influence of age-dependent Th1 and IFN-γ competence in Ascaris infections in humans. The doctoral researcher will learn modern immunological techniques of immune cell phenotyping, such as 15-color flow cytometry for intra- and extracellular cell staining, fluorospot assays, and qPCR. Human samples will be obtained in a study in an Ascaris endemic area in Kenya, so the project includes approximately 4 weeks of fieldwork per year in Kenya. In summary, the project aims to elucidate the influence of age at initial infection and the development of a protective Th2 immune response of the host against roundworms.

Requirements:
Master or similar degree in a relevant subject (e.g., Molecular Medicine, Parasitology, Life Sciences, Immunology, Veterinary Medicine, Biochemistry or similar)
Desirable:

• English language – written and oral (English is the program‘s language-though without English language skills, a membership in RTG 3096 is not possible)
• Knowledge in Parasitology (Helminths) / Veterinary Medicine (Workshops, lectures, courses)
• Skills in doing primary cell culture, experience in animal experiments (pig)
• Experience with immunological methods (Flow Cytometry, ELISA etc.)
• Experience in infection research
• Interest in interdisciplinary work (with ecological modeler, social scientists, economists)
• Skills to work in a team, time management
  Further Information on the Research Training Group „One Health“ and all offered positions
  can be found here:
  https://www.vetmed.fu-berlin.de/en/einrichtungen/sonstige/grk3096

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Freie Universität Berlin is an equal opportunity employer.