The PhD candidate will study aptamers specific to Pseudomonas aeruginosa towards the design of novel diagnosis systems. The work focuses on detecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa, that is an ESKAPE pathogen and well-known by its antibiotic resistance. In this project, the PhD candidate will select relevant ligands specific to this pathogen which are key to develop improved detection systems against its variants and that could further inform therapeutic strategies.
The work is a close collaboration with other groups in the network interested in the development of devices and diagnostics of virulence via adhesin-host binding. The position thus offers the opportunity of internships with both academic and industrial partners.
Methods will include constructing heterologous Escherichia coli strains expressing P. aeruginosa adhesins. These will be then used to select high-affinity aptamers against P. aeruginosa adhesins through cell-SELEX. Aptamers affinity and selectivity will be characterized and further used to develop electrochemical aptasensors. Clinical isolates will be used to establish the aptasensor readout.
We are recruiting 15 fully-funded doctoral candidates for 36-month positions across our European network, with guaranteed secondments in both academic and industrial partner institutions.
We are recruiting 15 fully-funded doctoral candidates for 36-month positions across our European network, with guaranteed secondments in both academic and industrial partner institutions.
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