PRR Project

Summary

The candidate must have a strong knowledge of virus evolution, comparative immunology and genomics since its main focus will be the study of virus-host coevolution patterns. Additionally, the candidate should have a solid education in Evolutionary Biology, evidencing a comprehensive understanding of immune system multigene families. The candidate will be involved in BIOPOLIS-InBIO Immunity and Emerging Diseases (IMED) research group´s, which focuses in the virus-host co-evolution process and emerging diseases. A major line of research of this Group is to study the host-pathogen co-evolutionary processes by monitoring changes in the genetic content of populations of a model species, the European rabbit (O. cuniculus), in relation to two epizootics that have decimated wild populations in the recent past, Myxomatosis and rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD). The myxomatosis is caused by a DNA virus, the Myxoma virus, that recently jumped from the European rabbit to Lepus species. The RHD is caused by an RNA virus, the Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, that also recently jumped from the European rabbit to European and American lagomorphs such as Lepus sp. and Sylvilagus sp.. The candidate is expected to identify the genetic resistance against these two diseases by comparing genome sequences of different lagomorphs obtained before and after the referred viruses species jumps and also by comparing genomes of samples that were infected and survived and dead animals. Another research topic will be identifying potential virus reservoirs and potentially zoonotic viruses circulating in wild and domestic animals using non-invasive samples such as faeces and swabs. A second major study line of this research group is the evolution of immune system genes in vertebrates. The candidate is expected to perform immunology comparative studies in vertebrates, with particular emphasis on multigene families, that will allow the identification of the main evolutionary strategies used by the different animal groups to create an efficient immune response against viruses and other pathogens. To do this, the candidate will take advantage of full genomes available in public databases, and use adequate evolutionary bioinformatic tools to run phylogenetic and synteny analyses, evaluating evolutionary processes such as expansions/retractions in the size of multigene families, recombination and positive selection events. It is also expected that the candidate be enrolled in the master´s and PhD programs by supervising master´s and PhD students and proposing short-term training courses. The candidate should be engaged in research work communication in scientific national and international meetings but also communicate with general audiences, like Portuguese association hunters, in national and international newspapers.The candidate should have: i) a solid curriculum in virus evolution and comparative immunology studies, demonstrated by a track record of high-profile scientific publications in Virology, Immunology and Evolution; ii) a solid knowledge of Immunology with extensive experience in the evolution of immune system multigene families; iii) a solid knowledge in the virus evolution with extensive experience in detection of recombination and positive selection events; iv) must be recognized as an expert in Virology, Immunology and Evolution, such as being a member of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) or being in the editorial board of important journals in these fields; v)  should have experience as a group leader, in teaching, in the supervision of PhD students and Post-graduate researchers; vi) should have extensive experience in managing research projects; viii) should have experience in communication with general audiences and with media; viii) should have established a good network of international collaborations.