Breaching the barrier: enterovirus and parechovirus antagonism of mucosal innate immunity and near-patient diagnostics for neonatal disease

Applications are invited for a 3.5-year PhD in the virology group led by Dr David J Allen at the University of Surrey.

Enteroviruses and parechoviruses are the leading cause of viral meningitis in infants and neonates, with outcomes ranging from mild illness to fatal disease. However, the virus-host interactions underlying this variation remain poorly understood. This project will address this gap and develop a rapid diagnostic test to improve clinical management.

These viruses enter via the gut or respiratory tract, yet early mucosal interactions are unclear. This project will test whether viruses linked to severe disease, such as echovirus 11, echovirus 30 and enterovirus D68, more effectively suppress frontline antiviral defences compared to other strains. You will use a range of model systems, from intestinal epithelial cell lines to human gut organoids and primary airway epithelial cultures, to map innate immune responses and identify viral factors responsible for immune evasion.

In parallel, you will develop a rapid RT-LAMP diagnostic test to detect these viruses from stool and throat swabs without specialised laboratory infrastructure. This near-patient test could support faster bedside decisions, reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, and potentially avoid invasive procedures such as lumbar puncture.

This interdisciplinary project spans molecular virology, innate immunology, clinical microbiology and diagnostics. You will gain experience in virus culture, immune assays, primary cell and organoid models, and diagnostic assay development, providing excellent training for an ambitious graduate.

Open to candidates who pay UK/home rate fees. See UKCISA for further information.

Applicants are expected to have a good honours degree (first or upper second) in a relevant degree. A masters degree in a relevant discipline is desirable. Experience in virology and/or innate immunity will be advantageous, but not essential. You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements for our PhD programme.

You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements for our Biosciences and Medicine PhD.