PhD position in Infection Immunology (m/f/d)
Mikrobiologisches Institut
Prof. Dr. med. Roland Lang
Wasserturmstr. 3/5
91054 Erlangen
Prof. Dr. med. Roland Lang
Arbeitsgruppenleiter/stellv. Institutsdirektor
Telefon: 09131 85-32979
Job-Nr.: 10081
Arbeitsgruppenleiter/stellv. Institutsdirektor
Telefon: 09131 85-32979
Mikrobiologisches Institut
Prof. Dr. med. Roland Lang
Wasserturmstr. 3/5
91054 Erlangen
Veröffentlicht seit: 28.02.2025
Job-Nr.: 10081
Mikrobiologisches Institut
Prof. Dr. med. Roland Lang
Wasserturmstr. 3/5
91054 Erlangen
Prof. Dr. med. Roland Lang
Arbeitsgruppenleiter/stellv. Institutsdirektor
Telefon: 09131 85-32979
Klingt spannend?
Das sind wir:
The laboratory „Balancing innate immunity“ (Prof. Dr. med. Roland Lang) at the Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene of the University Hospital Erlangen offers a PhD position to investigate mechanisms of helminth-induced inhibition of Th1/Th17 immunity.
Research in the Lang lab investigates how the immune system generates resistance to infection while avoiding excessive inflammation. This includes a need for efficient sensing of microbes by macrophages, generating inflammatory cytokines that direct adaptive immune responses, and regulatory mechanisms to achieve resolution of inflammation. A focus of our interest has been the role of myeloid C-type lectin receptors like Mincle in the detection of mycobacteria (the bacteria causing tuberculosis). Mincle signaling through Syk-Card9 in myeloid cells induces strong Th17 immune responses. Since we found that the Th2 cytokines IL-4/IL-13 inhibit expression of Mincle and related C-type lectin receptors, we have started to analyze the contribution of this regulation to inhibition of vaccine-induced Th1/Th17 immune response during helminth infection (Schick et al. 2023 eLife).
Lab homepage: https://www.mikrobiologie.uk-erlangen.de/forschung/forschergruppen-arbeitsgruppen/ag-prof-r-lang/
Your tasks:
- In the context of a DFG-funded German-African cooperation project in infectiology, the PhD project will dissect how helminth infection and type 2 cytokines interfere with Mincle expression and induction of Th1/Th17 immune responses.
- The methods employed to investigate the mechanisms will comprise in vitro macrophage, DC and T cell cultures, as well as immunization and infection experiments in conditional knockout mice with cell type-specific deletions.
- Readout systems will include multi-color flow cytometry, ELISA and multiplex cytokine analyses, protein modification and RNAseq analyses.
Essential experience/qualifications:
- We are looking for highly motivated candidates holding a Master degree in the Life Sciences (Biology, Human Biology, Molecular Medicine) with a strong background in immunology, molecular biology and infection biology.
- Practical experience in cell culture, flow cytometry and mouse models is advantageous.