Prior infection enhances immune-epithelial cell interactions to control respiratory infections
Supervisors:
Megan MacLeod, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow
Calum Bain, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow
Caroline Weight, Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University
Summary:
Respiratory infections lead to changes in the functions of epithelial cells and the composition of immune cells within the respiratory tract. This includes an influx of adaptive immune cells that respond specifically to the pathogen and a shift in the ontogeny and function of innate immune cells. These changes can lead to reduced immunity to bacterial infections and/or altered anti-viral responses.
While evidence is growing of sustained changes to immune and non-immune cells after infection, less is understood about how these different cells interact at a molecular level.
This project will utilise complementary mouse models of respiratory infection with air-liquid interface cultures of human respiratory epithelial cells to identify the molecules that underpin interactions between epithelial cells and innate and adaptive immune cells and ask how these interactions lead to altered immunity.
The student will learn to work effectively within teams and independently, learning skills in experimental design, data and image analysis and across disciplines. Key lab skills will include in vivo and in vitro immunology, microbiological and viral culture, flow cytometry and microscopy, and genetic manipulation of cells for example using siRNA and CRISPR. Additionally, the student will receive training in scientific communication, time and data management, EDI and research integrity.