General information
Reference : UMR5168-JOHDEC-008
Workplace : GRENOBLE
Date of publication : Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Scientific Responsible name : Johan Decelle
Type of Contract : PhD Student contract / Thesis offer
Contract Period : 36 months
Start date of the thesis : 1 October 2022
Proportion of work : Full time
Remuneration : 2 135,00 € gross monthly
Description of the thesis topic
Missions : Host-parasite interactions are widespread in single-celled marine plankton. The main objective of the project will be to better understand the trophic strategies of the parasite during its intracellular development in the host (dinoflagellate) using subcellular imaging techniques (nanoSIMS coupled to isotope labeling and 3D electron microscopy) and metabolomics (lipidomes). Moreover, to better understand the metabolism and infection mechanisms of the free form of the parasite, the second objective of the project will be to reveal the 3D ultrastructure of the dinospores released after infection with 3D electron microscopy approaches (FIB-SEM and cryo-tomography).
Activities :
- Culture of the microalgae (host) - parasite system in the laboratory
- Photo-physiological analyses (photosynthesis, carbon fixation)
- Incubation with stable isotopes coupled to nanoSIMS
- 3D electron microscopy (FIB-SEM and cryo-electron tomography)
- Image analysis (segmentation, 3D reconstruction)
- Communication through international meetings and workshops.
Background and skills :
- Training in biology
- Knowledge and interest in cellular interactions: mutualistic symbioses or parasitism
- Expertise in microalgae culture and physiology will be appreciated
- Knowledge and expertise in sample preparation for 3D electron microscopy (FIB-SEM, cryo-TEM), and image analysis for 3D reconstruction.
- Ability to work independently in an interdisciplinary and international environment (fluent in English), and to interact in a young and dynamic research group.
Work Context
The candidate will be part of the Photosymbiosis team (photosymbiosis.com) of the LPCV -laboratory of Cellular and Plant Physiology- (UMR 5168 - CNRS -CEA - Univ. Grenoble Alpes - INRA) within the IRIG institute of the CEA in Grenoble. The projects of the Photosymbiosis team aim to better understand the functioning of interactions between unicellular organisms (photosymbiosis, parasitism) by combining subcellular microscopy approaches (nanoSIMS, Synchrotron X-Ray fluorescence, 3D electron microscopy). Locally, the project will be in close collaboration with the IRIG institute: INAC platform (IRIG) and the Institute of Structural Biology (IBS, Grenoble).
Constraints and risks
There is no risk associated with the project. Parasites are not human pathogens.
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