SA03: Investigating Cell Signalling and Identifying Therapeutic targets in Acanthamoeba spp.

Supervisor

Dr Wayne Heaselgrave, School of Biomedical Science and Physiology

Project Description

Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba that can found in virtually all soil and water habitats throughout the world. Acanthamoeba lives in all of our homes and can be isolated from kitchen/bathroom taps, showerheads, vacuum cleaner dust and garden soil. Acanthamoeba is a dimorphic organism which exists as a feeding and dividing trophozoite which when it encounters unfavourable conditions forms a highly resistant and dormant cyst stage.

The organism usually feeds bacteria but is an opportunistic pathogen of humans causing a fatal encephalitis in immunocompromised patients as well as a blinding infection of the eye called Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) in previously healthy individuals. What is particularly worrying about this infection is that there is currently no licenced treatment. An unlicensed treatment does exist which includes the swimming pool disinfectant polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB).

Therefore there is an urgent need to identify new drug targets for this infection. Recently we have characterised a catecholamine like receptor in Acanthamoeba which appears to be involved in controlling the encystment process. Although the receptor responds to catecholamines no receptor which shares sequence homology with mammalian catecholamine receptors exists. In order to identify the structure of the receptor this proposal will use a pull down assay approach to purify the receptor. The receptor will then be sequenced and investigated further to determine its role in the encystment process and as a potential therapeutic target.    

References

Heaselgrave W, Kilvington S. The Characterisation of an Adrenergic Signalling System Involved in the Encystment of the Ocular Pathogen Acanthamoeba spp. J Eukaryot Microbiol. 2016 Sep;63(5):629-34.

Eligibility

We welcome applications at any time from self-funded students that are well qualified and highly motivated. Applicants should have a recognised Honours or Masters Degree with a 2.1 or equivalent in Microbiology (or a related field). Applicants whose entry award was not delivered in English, or non-native speaker of English shall be required to demonstrate proficiency in English at least to the level of an IELTS score of 7.0 or its equivalent.

How to apply

Complete the Research Project Application Form (Word doc 679k) and email to RIHS@wlv.ac.uk. 

See Guidance for the Completion of the Research Project Application Form (Word doc 23k) for details.

For more information

For an informal discussion please contact Dr Heaselgrave via email at w.heaselgrave@wlv.ac.uk