Postdoctoral Position to Study Mechanisms of Immune Evasion Developed by Bacterial Pathogens
Postdoctoral position (2 years) available at Lund University, Sweden to study mechanisms developed by bacterial pathogens for defense from killing by the human complement system, a crucial part of innate immunity. The project will focus on soluble complement inhibitors in respiratory pathogens such as Moraxella and Haemophilus.
The applicant will join an ongoing project in a dynamic group of prof Anna Blom, who focuses on the complement system in physiology and pathology. The project is a collaboration with Section of Medical Microbiology. Applicants should be highly motivated, communicative and inventive with a Ph.D. in microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology or related discipline. Particularly valuable experience: microbiology, molecular biology, protein chemistry. Applicants must have completed their PhD by the start of the appointment and preferably within the last 5 years.
Applicants should submit by e-mail (anna.blom@med.lu.se) curriculum vitae including publication list and e-mail address of two references at latest January 20th 2008. Starting date is flexible. Salary approx 1700 euro/month (tax-free stipend).
http://www.demesta.com/annablomresearch
Selected recent publications from the group relevant to the subject
Okroj M., Mark L., Stokowska A., Wong S. W., Rose N., Blackbourn, D., Spiller O. B. and Blom A. M., (2008) Functional activity of the complement inhibitor encoded by Rhesus Rhadinovirus, RCP., J. Biol. Chem., in press.
Potempa M., Potempa J., Okroj M., Popadiak K., Eick S., Nguyen K., Riesbeck K. and Blom A. M. (2008) Binding of complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein contributes to serum resistance of Porphyromonas gingivalis., J. Immunol., 181, 5537-44.
Potempa M., Potempa J., Wawrzonek K., Nguyen K., Popadiak K., Riesbeck K. and Blom A. M. (2008) Interpain, cysteine proteinase from Prevotella intermedia inhibits complement by degrading complement factor C3., invited to resubmit by PLOS Pathogens
Popadiak K., Potempa J., Riesbeck K. and Blom A. M. (2007) Biphasic effect of gingipains from Porphyromonas gingivalis on human complement system., J. Immunol., 178, 7242-50.
