BSc Placement Studentship

Influenza virus infection of mammalian host species, especially pigs, represents a human and animal health risk because of the ability of influenza viruses to undergo reassortment, antigenic shift and drift that can lead to the emergence of new variants and strains with pandemic potential. It is particularly important to understand the host factors that influence these viral mutation and adaptation events. This studentship project aims to identify porcine host correlates of infection at the gene expression level. There are several likely candidate genes, mostly from the interferon immune response pathway. However, in some cases, it is unknown whether genes are relevant in the porcine host even though they have been demonstrated to be important during influenza virus infection of other host species or models (humans, mice and others). The main aim of this work will therefore be to establish new protocols or apply existing methods to verify the choice of target genes and test them on in vitro models and recently archived in vivo materials.

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