Description du sujet de thèse

Epigenetics and quiescence: study of artemisinin resistance in P. falciparum.
A PhD student position (3 years) is available in the team “New antimalarial molecules and pharmacological approaches” (UMR1289 Inserm), within the CNRS Coordination Chemistry Laboratory (UPR8241). This project focuses on the study of parasite resistance to artemisinin, the reference treatment for malaria. This resistance is unique in that it involves a parasite subpopulation entering quiescence and thus surviving the treatment. The project aims to decipher the link between the epigenetic signature of parasites and their predisposition to enter quiescence in response to artemisinin treatment. This project will be based on the use of inhibitors targeting epigenetic enzyme, which have demonstrated efficacy against this quiescence state. These inhibitors will enable us to: i) precisely identify their therapeutic target in P. falciparum, ii) validate these therapeutic targets by editing the P. falciparum genome iii) study the impact of epigenetics in artemisinin resistance. In the short term, this project will identify new anti-malarial therapeutic targets for eliminating resistant parasites in a quiescent state, and in the long term, propose specific anti-malarial drug candidates.

Responsibilities
• Carry out the thesis project
• Work in collaboration with the researchers and technical platforms involved in the project
• Actively participate in all team seminars and scientific meetings
• Periodically transmit results, in the form of written reports and oral presentations, to the research team and collaborators
• Drafting of thesis manuscript and active participation in the writing of articles arising from the project
• Participate in the supervision of trainees

Main qualifications
• Master 2 in biology
• Experience in cell culture; experience in parasite culture would be a plus
• Notions of pharmacology
• Experience in molecular biology
• Skilled in problem-solving, well-organized, and proactive
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Creativity, autonomy and team spirit

Contexte de travail

The team is located on a CNRS campus close to the University of Toulouse, offering a stimulating research environment and access to state-of-the-art technological platforms, both within the laboratory and on campus. The team is attached to the Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, and the biology part is housed within the Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, two laboratories recognized internationally for the quality of their work. Françoise Benoit-Vical's team is a leader in the field of antimalarial pharmacology. Toulouse is a lively, fast-growing city in south-west France, with the second-largest student population in France.

Le poste se situe dans un secteur relevant de la protection du potentiel scientifique et technique (PPST), et nécessite donc, conformément à la réglementation, que votre arrivée soit autorisée par l'autorité compétente du MESR.

Contraintes et risques

Experiments in a L2+ laboratory, manipulation of human blood products