Postdoc Intestinal host-microbe interactions (1.0 FTE)

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We are looking for a Postdoc to perform scientific research on interactions of bacteria with intestinal mucin proteins as part of an ERC-funded project.
The intestinal microbiota is essential for human health, but can also cause inflammation, for example in patients that suffer from ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. We aim to understand how pathobionts or pathogens cause inflammation or epithelial invasion and how commensal bacteria stimulate a healthy epithelial barrier. Interactions between microbiota and the host take place in the mucus layer. Transmembrane mucins are receptor-like glycosylated proteins expressed on the apical surface of intestinal epithelial cells. These mucins can act like barriers, be used utilized by pathogens for invasion and initiate signaling events. In one of our publications we described the potential hijacking of transmembrane mucin MUC1 by Salmonella and its utilization for apical invasion of intestinal epithelial cells (Li et al, PLoS Pathogens; PMC6375660).
The goal of this project is to perform high-throughput screens to identify commensals, pathogens and pathobionts that interact with transmembrane mucins. Furthermore you will investigate the downstream effects of specific interactions on bacterial invasion, immune activation and epithelial barrier formation. Your findings will be published in peer reviewed journals and you will present your work in the department and at international conferences. Depending on your experience, you may be responsible for the daily supervision of MSc or PhD students.

The required techniques include:

• cell culture of cell lines and primary cells;
• microbiological techniques such as bacterial culturing and generation of knockouts;
• high-throughput screening assays;
• generation of CRISPR/Cas9 knockout cell lines;
• assays to determine protein-protein interactions;
• advanced microscopy, FACS;
• immunological assays including phagocytosis assays, reporter assays and ELISA.

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