A postdoctoral position is available for one up to three years to study the molecular interactions between viruses, bacteria and mammalian host cells using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Bacteriophages have great therapeutic potential as an alternative to classical antimicrobials to fight pathogens such as multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Bacteriophages have been tested for clinical applications since the beginning of the twentieth century, yet the phage-bacterial-host interactions that lead to adhesion and invasion are still poorly understood. This multidisciplinary research will use state-of-the-art AFM techniques with classical biomethods to broaden our understanding of the molecular interactions and mechanisms taking place in the phage-bacterium-host cell ternary system, using S. aureus and human skin cells as medically-important models. The results will have broad impacts as there is currently a strong demand for single cell nanotechniques in biology, and as resistant pathogens are becoming increasingly difficult to treat, meaning there is an urgent need for innovative antimicrobial strategies.
Candidates should send their CV and the name of references to Prof yves.dufrene@uclouvain.be
E-mail yves.dufrene@uclouvain.be
Research Field Biological sciences » Other
Education Level PhD or equivalent
Research Field Physics » Biophysics
Education Level PhD or equivalent
Languages ENGLISH
Level Good
Number of offers available 1
Company/Institute UCLouvain
Country Belgium
City Louvain-la-Neuve
Website http://www.uclouvain.be
Street Place de l'Université, 1
E-Mail yves.dufrene@uclouvain.be
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