Pathogens are recognized by a plethora of receptors on antigen presenting cells including
C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) and
sialic acid binding immunoglobulin-like lectin (Siglec) receptors. These receptors are important for pathogen infection and transmission, but also for the induction of immune responses. We will study the interaction between these two receptor types, how this determines immunity, and develop novel tools to block pathogen binding to CLRs and Siglec receptors. For this you will isolate, produce and characterize nanobodies that can bind CLRs and Siglec receptors and analyze their capacity to block pathogen infection and to target antigens to antigen presenting cells.
As a PhD student your main tasks and responsibilities are:
- Clone nanobodies that bind to different lectin and siglec receptors;
- Develop and produce multivalent nanobody molecules;
- Analyze the binding, uptake, routing, and induced signalling of nanobodies that bind to different receptors;
- Study the capacity of nanobodies to block infection by pathogens and develop and test nanobody based vaccines using human in vitro culture systems;
- Work closely with our collaborators on this project at Amsterdam UMC;
- Author manuscripts submitted to high quality journals and present at conferences.