Postdoc Molecular and Translational Immunology

Descrizione

Postdoc Molecular and Translational Immunology Sintesi in italiano (traduzione automatica): L'UMC Utrecht e l'ErasMS di Rotterdam offrono un progetto di ricerca post-dottorato di 36 mesi, finanziato, focalizzato sull'immunologia molecolare e traslazionale. Il candidato selezionato si occuperà di studiare l'enzima aminopeptidasi ERAP2 e il suo ruolo nell'infezione da EBV nei pazienti affetti da sclerosi multipla. Utilizzando tecniche molecolari avanzate, il ricercatore costruirà modelli cellulari pertinenti e modulerà l'attività di ERAP2 per analizzare le risposte immunitarie. È richiesta una laurea in biologia, biotecnologie o un campo correlato, oltre a competenze in genetica funzionale e immunologia. Il progetto prevede collaborazioni con esperti internazionali e offre opportunità di ricerca traslazionale. This fully funded 36-month postdoc project aims to test whether targeting the aminopeptidase ERAP2 can tackle EBV infection in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and is a joint effort of our group at the Department of Ophthalmology of the UMC Utrecht and the ErasMS team at Erasmus MC Rotterdam. You will use state-of-the-art molecular and cellular techniques available at the Kuiper group and its collaborating labs to elucidate how ERAP2 shapes pathogenic immune responses and if this can be corrected with small molecular inhibitors. This project aims to test whether targeting ERAP2 can selectively remove pathogenic EBV-infected B cells in MS. Almost everyone with MS carries EBV, and EBV-infected B cells help drive disease. ERAP2 shapes how these B cells present viral peptides to NK cells and CD8+ T cells. You will build disease-relevant cellular models of EBV-infected B cells, modulate ERAP2 activity, and read out the downstream consequences for antigen presentation, NK and CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity, and B cell survival. You will be embedded in the research group of Dr. Jonas Kuiper within the Center for Translational Immunology (CTI) at UMC Utrecht and collaborate closely with the groups of Dr. Marvin van Luijn and Dr. Joost Smolders at MS Center ErasMS in Rotterdam. The project combines functional genetics in primary human B cells and B cell lines (CRISPR-KO and knock-in base editing) with immunological co-culture assays, single-cell transcriptomics, and HLA-immunopeptidomics. You will identify how ERAP2 variants and small-molecule modulators alter the peptidome on EBV-infected B cells and how this shifts recognition by NK and CD8+ T cells. You will also integrate population genetics and MS-associated risk variants to link mechanism to disease. The wider network includes NK experts Dr. Dorian Fruci (Rome) and Dr. Hannes Vietzen (University of Vienna), and immunopeptidomics expert Dr. Fabio Marino, giving the project real translational reach. Annuncio in inglese. Fonte: Euraxess (Commissione europea).