How can we induce long-lasting protective immunity against coronaviruses and influenza?

We have established powerful pig models to study immunity to influenza and coronaviruses and unlike the mouse, pigs are a natural host for the same subtypes of influenza virus as humans, and pig respiratory coronaviruses (PRCV) are very similar to Covid-19. Humans and pigs are very similar in terms of tissue/organ anatomy, physiology, and importantly their immune responses to influenza and coronaviruses. Pigs are also approximately the same size as humans, and hence they represent a much more suitable model than the mouse, acting as a vital stepping-stone in the translation of experimental results into human clinical applications.

It is now clear that local immune responses mediated by lymphocytes that remain in the lungs, called lung tissue-resident memory T and B cells (TRM and BRM), are critical for protective immunity to respiratory pathogens. TRM and BRM are most effectively induced by delivery of vaccines to the lungs but we do not know how to do this to produce powerful and long-lasting local immunity. In this project we shall investigate the generation and maintenance of TRM and BRM induced either by pandemic H1N1pdm09 influenza or PRCV.

This novel project will provide the student with the unique opportunity to investigate the mechanisms of induction of TRM and BRM in a large, natural-host animal model and to establish their role in immunity to influenza and coronaviruses. The student will determine whether the method of immunisation affects the magnitude, character and duration of the TRM and BRM response. This will be a crucial step in the more rational development of novel vaccine strategies for influenza and coronaviruses.

For full project details please visit Postgraduate studentships | The Pirbright Institute

Project supervisors: Dr Elma Tchilian (The Pirbright Institute) - elma.tchilian@pirbright.ac.uk and Prof Christine Rollier (University of Surrey) - c.rollier@surrey.ac.uk.

The student will be based primarily at The Pirbright Institute and registered with the University of Surrey. The student will visit the university to meet with their supervisors and undertake training or complete specific project tasks as required. A full range of research and transferrable skills training will be made available to the student at both The Pirbright Institute and the University of Surrey.

This studentship is open to science graduates with, or who anticipate obtaining, at least a 2:1 or equivalent, in a relevant biological subject in their undergraduate degree, or a masters degree, subject to university regulations. Other first degrees, e.g. veterinary science, will be considered. You should be looking for a challenging, interdisciplinary research training environment and have an active interest in the control of infectious diseases.

It is open to UK students. International students are welcome to apply, however international students will be liable for tuition fees at the Overseas rate and must be able to fund the difference between the Home and Overseas tuition fees themselves.

Students without English as a first language must provide evidence that they meet the English language requirement, e.g. with an IELTS score of 7.0, with no lower than 7.0 in listening/reading and no lower than 6.5 in speaking/writing.

Immunology

The Pirbright Institute is a world leading centre of excellence in research and surveillance of virus diseases of farm animals and viruses that spread from animals to humans. We receive strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), and work to enhance capability to contain, control and eliminate these economically and medically important diseases through highly innovative fundamental and applied bioscience. The Institute employs around 350 staff, research students and visiting scientists, and is based in Pirbright, Surrey, where investment by BBSRC has resulted in a redevelopment of the site and the construction of a high level containment facility – the BBSRC National Virology Centre: The Plowright Building and a SAPO level two facility, The Jenner Building. https://www.pirbright.ac.uk.