Going beyond the state-of-the-art, the overall aim of GlycoNoVi is training 10 researchers to address knowledge gaps on norovirus glycan interactions and investigate the exciting possibility of developing synthetic glycans as antiviral strategies to treat norovirus infection. These aims will be achieved by bringing together 5 academic and 3 industrial leaders in the fields of glycoscience, glycovirology and norovirus, and relying on a multidisciplinary and interconnected approach.
Glycans play a crucial role in viral infections by facilitating norovirus attachment and entry. Norovirus is the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis and foodborne illnesses, which result in significant morbidity, mortality, and economic losses. While NoV infections are usually self-limiting in healthy individuals, they can lead to severe complications in immunocompromised individuals, young children, and the elderly. Notably, no therapy is currently available to treat or prevent NoV infections. Although it is well-established that NoVs require specific glycans to infect host tissues and cells, the underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated.
As a PhD student in position 7 of this project, you will focus on investigating the mechanisms of norovirus infections in humans. Specifically, you will explore the role of glycan receptor binding in norovirus diversity and evolution. Your tasks will include mapping the binding properties of norovirus strains to tissues and glycans made available through the consortium, as well as analyzing how amino-acid mutations in the capsid protein can affect these properties. To achieve these goals, you will use state-of-the-art techniques such as whole genome sequencing, ELISA-based assays, virus histochemistry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), molecular dynamics simulations, and infection studies using organ-on-a-chip models and organoids.
The PhD project is part of the
GlycoNoVi Marie Skłodowska-Curie European Doctorate Network (EDN), which is funded by the European Commission (Grant agreement no: 101072717). As a part of this project, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with 9 PhD students located throughout Europe. Additionally, you will perform secondments at the University of Florence (UNIFI), REACT4LIFE (Italy), and the University of Seville (USE).