Development of nanoparticle-adjuvant and antigen-matching autogenous vaccine for Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and comparative evaluation against other MG live and inactivated vaccines

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) causes respiratory and reproductive diseases in poultry. This results in poor health, production and raises welfare concerns. For more than half centuries, University of Liverpool is well-known for its expertise in avian mycoplasma, from conventional and molecular laboratory techniques to diagnosis and control of the disease in the farms. We are recently awarded with a 4-year PhD studentship from the British Egg Marketing Board (BEMB). 

The PhD would suit someone with a keen interest in microbiology and molecular biology. Studies may include the followings:

1. Epidemiological investigation of avian mycoplasmas circulating in UK poultry farms using culture, isolation and identification/differentiation using conventional and molecular techniques.
2. Genomic analysis of the most prevalent Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) isolated from the poultry farms in UK, and expression of immunodominant surface proteins from that mycoplasma isolate/stain in an E. coli expression system.
3. Preparation of CHT NPAs/NCMPs experimental vaccine for each protein, and a mixture of all three (3-in-1) recombinant vaccines.
4. Evaluation of the inhibitory effect of each vaccine candidate on pathogenic MG using tracheal organ culture (TOC).
5. In vivo evaluation of the protective efficacy of each of the NPA vaccine and ‘combination’ of all the NPA vaccines in a) specific-pathogen free (SPF) chickens, b) commercial layer hens.
6. To cross compare the results of above (5) against other available MG vaccines in UK.
7. Determination of underlying protective immune mechanisms following MG in vivo vaccination and in vaccination-challenged birds.

Techniques associated with this project:

• Isolation and identification of avian mycoplasma using conventional culture and molecular and Immunofluorescence methods.
• DNA extraction, conventional PCR, qPCR, gel/PCR purification, sequencing, sequence analysis, bioinformatics and others
• Cloning, expression, and purification of recombinant proteins.
• Nanoparticle based adjuvant vaccine formation.
• Cell-culture and tracheal organ culture (TOC) for in vitro assessments
• In vivo vaccination and vaccination-challenge model development, and protection assessment of the newly formulated against currently available vaccines

 Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• To hold 1^st or 2.1 honours degree in relevant subjects, such as Veterinary, Microbiology, Biological/Biomedical Sciences, or a closely related discipline. Preferences will be given to those holding a master’s degree in one of these disciplines.
• The studentship only available for residence of UK. Condition imposed by the funding body – BEMB.
• The BEMB through the University of Liverpool will provide stipend equivalent to the rate of on-going BBSRC PhD studentship.

The PhD scholar will be jointly supervised by Professors Ganapathy, Kannan, Evans, Nicholas & Imran Saleem. You will be primarily based at University of Liverpool Leahurst campus, with some work undertaken at the Liverpool John Moore University. For further information, please email gana@liverpool.ac.uk. To apply please forward your covering letter and CV (listing 2 referees) to pgrapps@liverpool.ac.uk.