Identifying mechanisms and drivers for Nipah virus dynamics in Pteropus bat populations

Description

Background:

Nipah virus (NiV) is an emerging zoonotic disease with a high mortality rate (40-75%) and the potential to evolve pandemic capability. It is also recognised as a potential biological warfare agent in the context of bioterrorism and is a World Health Organisation priority pathogen.  Discovered in 1999, following an outbreak in Malaysian pig farms, human outbreaks occur yearly in Bangladesh and India. Research has shown that Pteropus bats are the main wildlife reservoir of NiV in Asia, however, little is known about NiV circulation and genetic diversity within and between bat populations. Increased understanding of this understudied area is an important aspect of preventing NiV spillovers from bat populations into human populations, thereby reducing the risk of a NiV epidemic or pandemic, which, as seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, could have a catastrophic impact on human health, the global economy, and all areas of society.
Mechanistic compartment models of pathogen transmission have enabled researchers to move beyond statistical correlation and explore hypotheses for causation of disease dynamics within populations. There have been few models of NiV in bats and only within single Pteropus populations. However, the population structure of Pteropus bats may be better studied as a metapopulation and recent work by Henrik Salje (co-supervisor on this project) using genetic sequence data suggests that there is well-established and extensive diversity of NiV across bat populations, with a clear spatiotemporal structure.

The project:

You will:
1. Develop a novel mathematical framework, informed by genetic sequence data, which describes NiV infection dynamics across multiple bat populations 
2. Use this framework to identify probable mechanisms and drivers for the dynamics observed
3. Investigate (within the mathematical framework) how these mechanisms and drivers could best be targeted as part of novel interventions for the prevention of NiV spillover, under current and hypothetical future rates of transmission

You will be part of a supportive and stimulating research environment at the University of Liverpool, with Dr Emily Nixon as your primary supervisor, with further support from Kieran Sharkey and external supervisors at the University of Cambridge (Henrik Salje and Olivier Restif).

Start Date: 1st October 2023

Further Details:

This PhD project is funded by The Faculty of Science & Engineering at The University of Liverpool and will start on 1st October 2023.

Successful candidates who meet the University of Liverpool eligibility criteria will be awarded a Faculty of Science & Engineering studentship for 3.5 years, covering UK tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend (e.g. £17,688 p.a. for 2022-23).

Faculty of Science & Engineering students benefit from bespoke graduate training and £5,000 for training, travel and conferences.

The Faculty of Science & Engineering is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience. Our recruitment process considers potential with the same weighting as past experience. Students must complete a personal statement profoma and ensure this is included in their online application.

How to Apply:

All applicants must complete the personal statement proforma. This is instead of a normal personal/supporting statement/cover letter. The proforma is designed to standardise this part of the application to minimise the difference between those who are given support and those who are not. The proforma can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/ym2ycne4. More information on the application process can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/mwn5952t. When applying online, students should ensure they include the department name in the ‘Programme Applied For’ section of the online form, as well as the Faculty of Science & Engineering as the ‘studentship type’ in the finance section.

Application Web Address: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/how-to-apply/