For the Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, KU LEUVEN we are looking for a PhD candidate within the thematic program "Immunology and Microbiology" and research domain "Cellular and Molecular Research" to study the role of T helper follicular cells in allergy.
This PhD-project will be performed in the large laboratory of experimental immunology, in which different groups of clinical immunologists are working (upper and lower airway disease, tumor immunology and mucosal immunology).
Project :
- Antibodies are made by specific immune cells (known as B cells) that require help from other cells, so-called T cells. A T cell subset, specialized in providing B cell help, has recently been discovered and is proposed to be a separate T cell lineage, called T follicular helper (Tfh) cells. These Tfh cells are characterized by specific membrane molecules, transcription factor and the production of the Protein interleukin (IL)-21.
- We recently coincidentally discovered that cord blood naïve T cells, shortly stimulated in a particular Protein milieu, produce IL-21. These cells might either be naïve cells capable of producing IL-21 or cells that quickly differentiated in vitro towards more mature cells. These cells might therefore be very important for the induction of Antibody production by neonatal B cells. Alternatively they might be an intermediate cell type, situated between naïve T cells and more mature T cell subsets with specific functions. Its relevance for specific IgE Antibody production by B cells in allergy is largely unknown.
- In this project we want to study the kinetics and specific stimuli and proteins responsible of this early IL-21 production. We will study whether adult naïve T cells have the same features and whether IL-21-producing cells have a Tfh signature and function. Finally we will study the role of this early IL-21 production in driving IgE Antibody production in healthy and allergic subjects.
Profile : Candidates should have very good communicative skills, willing to work together in good collaboration with several other PhD-students and postdoctoral researchers and should be speaking English fluently. They preferably have a master in biomedical or medical sciences. Having knowledge of cell culture techniques and flow Cytometry is an additional advantage.
- Offer : A successful application with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) would offer a 4-year full-time stipend. Our goal is to reach the highest international competitive research level and to present the results of this research at national as well as international conferences. If this is your goal too, we are waiting for your application!
- Interested? For more information please contact Prof. dr. Dominique Bullens, mail: dominique.bullens@med.kuleuven.be.
Deadline : 01.03.14
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