Examining the thermal biology of the innate immune response  | PhD Opportunities | Queen's University Belfast
Skip to Content

Examining the thermal biology of the innate immune response 

School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences | PHD

Applications are now CLOSED
Funding
Funded
Reference Number
SMED-2231-1229
Application Deadline
None specified
Start Date
None specified

Overview

The innate immune response causes local and systemic inflammation is response to infection and injury which is associated with changes in temperature. How temperature stress affects pattern recognition receptor signalling is unknown and this project aims to reveal the thermal biology of PRRs in innate immunity.

The innate immune response causes local and systemic inflammation is response to infection and injury. Systemic responses include fever and the elevation of body temperature has many effects on the immune response. We have demonstrated that high temperatures negatively regulate NLRP3 inflammasome signalling and that both high and low temperatures can modulate Toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling. As temperature is a fundamental physiological stressor it is important that we understand how it affects pattern recognition receptor (PRR) signalling and innate immunity. This project will examine how both high and low temperatures modulate macrophage PRR responses. Using transcriptomic an proteomic analyses a comprehensive overview of the effects of temperature stress on PRR signalling and infection responses will be built. The effects of temperature on the homeostasis of organelles such as mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum will be examined and the effects of PRR signalling on the temperatures of specific organelles will be characterised using fluorescent thermometers and microscopy. This project will reveal the thermal biology of PRRs in innate immunity.

Funding Information

Project Summary
Supervisor

Dr Rebecca Coll

More Information

askmhls@qub.ac.uk

Research Profile


Mode of Study

Full-time: 3 Years


Apply now Register your interest