Required Senior Research Assistant

This is a three- year project revolving around the physiological and immunological profiling/characterisation of a rarely encountered but potentially fatal pathogen: Rhinocladiella mackenziei. This dematiaceous (melanised) fungus causes phaeohyphomycosis, a cluster of clinical manifestations that ranges from the formation of subcutaneous modules to the development of fatal cerebral phaeohyphomycosis, as well as disseminated infection. Although rare compared with other fungal infections (e.g. cryptococcosis, candidiasis, aspergillosis), the incidence of Rhinocladiella­-associated phaeohyphomycosis seems to be on the rise, and is alarmingly associated not only with immunocompromised, but also with immunocompetent, individuals. Very little is known about the pathogenesis mechanisms employed by this fungus or the immune evasions mechanisms it uses to subvert host defenses. Furthermore, R. mackenziei intriguingly seems to be endemic to the Middle East, although there have been reports of a few sporadic cases outside this region, but all of which have originated in the Middle East. More so, metagenomic studies have identified putative virulence factors that suggest this organism’s natural environment may be oil- polluted desert soil.

The objectives of this project are to:

explore the physiological and metabolic attributes that may explain the virulence basis of mackenziei

determine the antifungal drug susceptibility profile of a local isolate of mackenziei

3. measure upregulation and downregulation of key inflammatory markers in in vitro- based co- culture models with human microglia cell lines and (potentially) other relevant cell lines

Essential skills:

strong background in mammalian tissue culture (adherent cell lines/primary cells of murine and human origin)

strong background in fundamental molecular biology, biochemical, and serological techniques, including (but not limited to): ELISA, qRT- PCR, Western blotting

strong background in routine cultivation of fungi

strong background in working under biosafety level 2 (BSL- 2) conditions

Desirable/preferable skills:

background in clinical/medical mycology and immunology

background in confocal laser scanning microscopy

familiarity with biosafety level 3 (BSL- 3) working conditions

Note: preference will be given to graduates of Kuwait University in the first instance and then to candidates with 3+ years experience post- MSc

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