PhD Position … for a nicer smile …

University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, ViennaCentre for Nanobiotechnology

Universität für Bodenkultur Wien

Zentrum für Nanobiotechnologie

NanoGlykobiologie-Gruppe

PhD Position… for a nicer smile …

Glycoprofiling of the oral pathogenTannerella forsythia for identifying novel strategies in pathogenicity

Short summary of project

The Gram-negative oral anaerobe T. forsythia is crucially involved in the onset of periodontitis, a multifactorial destructive gum disease that is the major cause of tooth loss. Consequently, there is a great biomedical interest in understanding the bacterium-host cross-talk, for which especially the bacterial cell surface is of high relevance. Based on the recent identification of a general protein O-glycosylation system in T. forsythia that contributes to the formation of a unique “sweet” cell envelope of the bacterium, this projects aims at characterizing the virulence potential of selected glycoproteins from the T. forsythia cell envelope.

By understanding the molecular and cellular basis of the processes governing pathogenicity, it shall be possible to design rational approaches for controlling or even preventing periodontitis.

Requirements

The candidate must hold a MSc degree and should have a sound background in molecular biology, micro-biology, biochemistry. Practical experience in the fields of immunology and glycobiology is of advantage but not mandatory. The highly motivated candidate should be an excellent team player with the ability to work independently in an interdisciplinary environment.

Research goals

Expression and purification of the selected fucosyl-proteins from T. forsythia Immunology studies with selected fucosyl-proteins

(cooperation with the Department of Periodontology, General Hospital, Vienna) Determination of the roles of selected fucosyl-proteins in biofilm formation

We offer

Motivating scientific environment at the Vienna Institute of Biotechnology, cutting edge research in nanoglycobiology with a link to biomedical relevance, weekly seminars, participation in workshops andinternational conferences. Stays in partner laboratories abroad are possible.Funding opportunity according to the guidelines of FWF (http://www.fwf.ac.at/de/projects/einzelprojekte.html).Possibility of embedding the PhD thesis into the International PhD Programme BioToP (http://biotop.boku.ac.at/).

Applicants

Please e-mail your application with motivation, full CV and references along with contact addresses to:Ao.Univ.Prof. Dr. Christina SchäfferDep. für NanoBiotechnologie, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, Muthgasse 11, 1190 Wiene-mail: christina.schaeffer@boku.ac.at; Phone: 47654-2203

Time schedule: Start: March-May 2012; Duration: 3 years

Dep. of NanoBiotechnologyNanoGlycobiology Group

T. forsythia

T. forsythia glycan