The BBSRC has funded a major project to develop new strategies to control Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV). The project is a collaboration between the Universities of St Andrews, Leeds, Dundee, Edinburgh and the Pirbright Institute. A new form of the FMDV genome has been developed (a ‘replicon’) such that RNA replication can be studied outwith high-containment facilities. This FMDV replicon form of the genome bears a major deletion in the genome encoding the capsid proteins: these sequences have been replaced by those encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) such that RNA replication can be monitored in live cells by fluorescence (Tulloch et al., 2014. FMDV replicons encoding green fluorescent protein are replication competent. J. Virol. Methods 209C:35-40). This replicon system (and other cDNA constructs) is being used by our collaborators to study various aspects of the FMDV genome structure, RNA replication, modification of host-cell proteins, protein:protein interactions etc.

The post will entail using synthetic biology / site-directed mutagenesis etc. to manipulate FMDV replicon genomes (genome structure function analyses, creation and analyses of genome replication attenuated forms etc.) the analyses of RNA replication within transfected cells, creation of corresponding infectious copies of FMDV (within collaborating high-containment laboratories), virus rescue and characterisation (within collaborating high-containment laboratories).
 
The successful applicant must have a PhD and have experience with a wide range of molecular biological skills (particularly working with RNA), tissue-culture / cell transfection techniques, alongside the more ‘classical’ techniques used to analyse transfected cells (western blotting, RT-qPCR analyses, microscopy plus image analyses). The overall goal of the St Andrews component of the project is to identify how the FMDV genome replication can be attenuated such that new vaccines may be developed.

Please quote ref:  ML1581

Closing Date:  12 November 2014

Further Particulars:  ML1581AR FPs.doc

School of Biology
Biomedical Sciences Research Complex
Salary:  £31,342 per annum
Start Date:  1 December 2014, or as soon as possible thereafter
Fixed Term:  36 months