Identifying the missing protein kinases regulating autophagy in infectious parasites

Autophagy is an essential cellular mechanism in which molecules are targeted for lysosomal degradation and it is required for cell growth and differentiation. Our lab showed that autophagy is essential in the differentiation of the kinetoplastid protozoan Trypanosoma brucei into the form that would cause the disease sleeping sickness in humans. This project would now investigate the network of protein kinases involved in this process. The student would work with previously identified kinases, potentially involved in the autophagosome formation and autophagy regulation in T. brucei. Cell lines, expressing mutated forms of these kinases, will be used to validate their role in autophagy induction in vitro. The results will provide key insights into the mechanisms regulating autophagy in trypanosomatids. The student will receive training in cellular and molecular biology techniques, such as gene editing, PCR, protein and DNA electrophoresis, immunofluorescence microscopy, as well as category 2 pathogen culture, viability and differentiation assays. This is an ideal project for someone interested in biomedical sciences, infectious diseases, and biochemistry, requiring a motivated student eager to explore the unique biology of divergent organisms. Students will need to find their own accommodation and be expected to present their findings orally at a research day in York on 08th September 2026.