PhD position: Dendritic cell function in the immune regulation of the epididymis (m/f/d)

13 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

International PhD Programme (IPP) Mainz

Department

Institute of Molecular Biology

Research Field

Biological sciences
Medical sciences

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Germany

Application Deadline

17 Apr 2024 - 12:00 (Europe/Berlin)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Thinking of doing your PhD in the Life Sciences? The International PhD Programme (IPP) Mainz is offering talented, young scientists the chance to work on cutting edge research projects within the open call on “Molecular Biomedicine & Ageing”. As an IPP PhD student, you will join a community of exceptional scientists working on diverse topics ranging from how organisms age or how our DNA is repaired, to how epigenetics regulates cellular identity or neural memory.

 

Activities and responsibilities

The research group of Johannes Mayer offers the following PhD project:

Within the epididymis, a balanced immune regulation is essential for sperm maturation and thus, the male fertility status. This immunotolerant environment needs to be maintained for immunogenic spermatozoa to mature, yet pro-inflammatory immune responses have to be readily established against invading pathogens that ascend through the urogenital tract. A dysbalanced immune regulation, i.e. caused by acute bacterial infections, frequently results in longterm fertility impairments. While the neighbouring testis is considered an immune-privileged organ, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that balance tolerant and immunogenic immune reactions in the epididymis still need to be defined.

Our previous studies revealed that the epididymis is densely populated by resident antigen presenting cells that are strategically positioned along the epididymal duct. Accordingly, proximal regions remain mostly unresponsive to bacterial infections in mice and men, while distal regions exhibit severe and persistent tissue-damaging immune responses that detrimentally affect the male fertility status. Our observations point to a unique role for Dendritic Cells (DC), which bridge the innate and adaptive immune system and balance tolerance at steady state with initiating immune response upon infection. Our preliminary data indicate that epididymal DC locally differentiate into distinct functional phenotypes and thus shape the local immune environments.

PhD project: Identification of organ-specific and region-specific properties of conventional dendritic cells and their impact on the disease progression of acute bacterial epididymitis

Overall Aim: To understand the epididymis-specific properties of dendritic cells under physiological conditions and to assess changes in the course of acute bacterial epididymitis leading to a loss of the local immunotolerant environment.

Cutting-edge techniques, like scRNA-seq, CODEX and high dimensional flow cytometry, will be employed to comprehensively characterize the phenotypic and functional properties of region-specific epididymal murine DC at the steady state. Furthermore, the migratory properties and kinetics as well as the T cell activation status of specialized DC subsets will be assessed using photoconvertible transgenic mouse models and in vitro co-culture assays.

To mimic the clinical manifestations observed in epididymitis-patients, a well-established experimental mouse model of acute bacterial epididymitis will be established together with our close collaboration partners at the Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen. Utilizing specific transgenic mouse strains targeted DC and monocyte depletions will allow us to assess the impact of DC and monocyte-derived cells on the regionalized immune response and the development of anti-sperm immunity and autoinflammatory responses.

If you are interested in this project, please select Mayer EPI (May_EPI) as your group preference in the IPP application platform.

 

Qualification profile:

Are you an ambitious, young scientist looking to push the boundaries of research while interacting with colleagues from multiple disciplines and cultures? Then joining the IPP is your opportunity to give your scientific career a flying start!

All you need is:

• Master or equivalent
• Interactive personality & good command of English
• 2 letters of reference

We offer

• Exciting, interdisciplinary projects in a lively international environment, with English as our working language
• Advanced training in scientific techniques and professional skills
• Access to our state-of-the-art Core Facilities and their technical expertise
• Fully funded positions with financing until the completion of your thesis
• A lively community ofmore than 200 PhD students from 44 different countries

For more details on the projects offered and how to apply via our online form, please visit www.imb.de/phd .

The deadline for applications is 17 April 2024. Interviews will take place at IMB in Mainz on 1-3 July 2024.

Starting date: 1 August 2024 – 1 January 2025

Requirements

Research Field

Biological sciences

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Good

Research Field

Biological sciences

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

International PhD Programme (IPP)

Country

Germany

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.imb.de/phd

Contact

City

Mainz

Website

http://www.imb-mainz.de/PhD

Street

Ackermannweg 4

Postal Code

55128

STATUS: EXPIRED