EastBio：在人类致病真菌新形隐球菌中端粒结合蛋白的识别

该博士项目致力于开发针对新形式隐球菌 telomere 完整性的抗真菌药物，新形式隐球菌是引发隐球菌病的主要病原体。研究方法包括通过质谱技术识别 telomere 结合蛋白，并分析这些蛋白在细胞存活中的作用，有望为新型药物研发策略的确立提供支持。申请者需具备生物化学或分子生物学相关背景。

Job description: Details: Humans are infected by Cryptococcus from breathing fungal spores. This leads to developing cryptococcosis, which is accompanied by infection in lungs, brain and other parts of the body and causing more than 600,000 human deaths annually. There are no antibiotics efficient against cryptococci while other antifungal drugs have limited efficiency. We are interested in developing anti-fungal drugs targeting telomere integrity, which is normally essential for cell survival. Telomeres are the ends of linear chromosomes in eukaryotes. They consist of repetitive DNA sequences bound by the proteins recognising telomeric repeats. Loss of these proteins or their inability to bind telomeric DNA in a number of model organisms leads to persisting activation of the DNA damage response, telomere-telomere fusions and cell death. Therefore, developing a drug blocking the binding of telomeric proteins to telomeres is expected to result in cell death in cryptococci too. Cryptococcus neoformans is the model organism for studying cryptococci. The telomere-binding proteins in C. neoformans are not known but the sequence of the telomeric repeats has been identified. We will use the telomeric DNA as a bait to “fish out” the telomere-binding proteins from C. neoformans cell lysates and identify them by mass spectrometry. These proteins will be then expressed and purified in E.coli or other suitable cells and tested for binding telomeric DNA in vitro. At the next step, in vivo analyses will be performed to address the relevance of these proteins to telomere biology (telomere binding by ChIP/qPCR) and their importance for the survival in C. neoformans. An additional direction of the research could be pursued by comparing the telomere-binding proteins in C. neoformans and humans as the telomeric repeats in both organisms are identical, yet the homologs of the human telomere-binding proteins are not easily-identifiable in C. neoformans. We are looking for a hard-working student with a good analytical thinking, strong background in biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics or a relevant discipline, passionate about research and learning new things, as well as strongly committed to make their PhD project a success. You will be joining an interactive environment created by several research groups working on different aspects of cryptococcal biology. Multiple learning opportunities will be provided through one-on-one training within the lab, on-site short courses (microscopy, genomics, proteomics, etc), as well as participation in the lab meetings and student symposia within the School of Biological Sciences. For more information on the project, eligibility and how to apply for the School's PhD programme, please click on the "Visit Institution Website" link. Please download and complete the mandatory documents from the EastBio “how to apply” website , before proceeding with your application. Applicants should apply to the PhD in Biological Sciences with Internship programme via the University of Edinburgh’s admissions portal (Euclid) with a start date of 01 October 2027. Important: Before applying, please send your referees the EastBio reference form to ensure reference letters are submitted using the correct format. When completing the Euclid application, applicants should include: the project title the proposed research supervisor(s) anticipated funding source (i.e. EastBio/ Edinburgh Doctoral College Award) the completed EastBio application form, uploaded to the Research Proposal Section referee details or completed reference letters using the template EastBio reference form. Please note: If you submit only the referee details, they will automatically receive a link to upload their reference letter. However, the submitted letter must be using the template form, so please share this with them in advance. The closing date for applications to be submitted to Euclid is midday on Monday 16 November 2026. Reference letters will be accepted up to 2 weeks after the closing date. Submitted applications will remain under consideration during the shortlisting process until 22 February 2027, when successful candidates will be invited to interview. If any information is missing from your application, we will contact you through Euclid to request this. Please check your emails and the Euclid portal regularly. Please be aware The University reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or withdraw any of the advertised scholarships, without further notice.

资助说明： 这项为期4年的博士项目获得全额资助。申请者将有机会获得爱丁堡大学BBSRC博士培养计划奖或爱丁堡大学博士学院奖。成功的申请者将作为爱丁堡大学资助或联合资助的学生加入EastBio项目团队。参与该项目的学生需参加强制性培训计划，其中包括3个月的实习经历。此项目面向全球学生开放，参与者可获得UKRI标准标准的每月津贴，同时该项目还负责支付项目费用及学费。更多相关信息可访问EastBio网站；申请爱丁堡大学博士学院奖无需单独提交申请。