A research fellowship is available in the Microbiology laboratory directed by Prof. Francesco Imperi at the Department of Science, Roma Tre University, as part of the PRIN2020 project "Escaping the ESKAPEs: integrated pipelines for new antibacterial drugs”.
The candidate will be involved in the characterization of essential proteins involved in cell envelope biogenesis in the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa and in the evaluation of inhibitors identified by virtual screening through in vitro and in vivo assays.
Duration: 1 year (renewable)
Deadline for application: November 22nd, 2022
For further information, check the link https://apps.uniroma3.it/public/assegni/cartellaAssegni/0fa593c3-e1b4-4f29-b396-1c8c7ec1e8fe.pdf and/or contact Prof. Francesco Imperi (francesco.imperi@uniroma3.it)
A research fellowship is available at the Molecular Ecology Group of the CNR-IRSA, Verbania, in the frame of the PRIN2020 project "IdeARG" - Identification and isolation of antibiotic resistance gene containing freshwater bacteria in an eco-evolutionary frame - funded by MIUR.
The project deals with the antimicrobial resistance in the environment The main responsibilities of the Post-doc will be isolation of antibiotic resistant bacteria from lake sediments, genome analysis and experiments with these strains in complex communities. Find more about the project by checking the link http://www.meg.irsa.cnr.it/index.php/open-positions
For further information, please contact Dr. Ester Eckert (estermaria.eckert@cnr.it)
Duration: 18 months
Deadline for application: October 26, 2022
Dr. Irene Stefanini (University of Turin) is recruiting 1 Postdoctoral Research Associate to participate in the Human Science Frontier Program project "The aphrodisiac gut: defining the factors promoting yeast mating within insect intestines" involving the Dept. of Life Science and Systems Biology - University of Turin (Turin - Italy), The University of Sydney (Prof. Elizabeth New, Australia), the University of Balearic Islands (Dr. Marco Polin, Spain), and the University of Boston (Prof. Daniel Segrè, USA).
The selected candidate will be based at the Dept. of Life Science and Systems Biology in Turin (Italy) and will report directly to Dr. Irene Stefanini.
We are searching for a young researcher with Ph.D. in microbiology or insect sciences, preferentially with skills in the analysis of microbe-host interactions. Proven wet-lab experience is a mandatory requirement. Willingness to travel and work on multidisciplinary projects is also encouraged.
Here is some more information about the project: https://lmvunito.wixsite.com/website/single-project-1
We offer a 1-year contract, renewable for up to two years. The work will start at the latest on March 2023, but preliminary (online) interviews should be held ASAP.
If you are interested, please send a short CV to irene.stefanini@unito.it
Feel free to contact me for more details.
Irene Stefanini
RTD-A PRESSO UNIVERSITA’ DI MILANO, Biotechnology and Environmental Microbiology Lab (BEaMLab), Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS)
Ricerchiamo giovani PhD appassionati/e alla ricerca in microbiologia agro-ambientale. Sarà aperta a breve una selezione pubblica per una posizione triennale RTD-A AGR/16 presso l’Università di Milano nell’ambito del progetto PNRR Agritech. Il tema di ricerca sarà plant-microbiome interaction in particolare orientato alla formulazione e caratterizzazione di biomateriali funzionalizzati con batteri promotori della crescita delle piante per applicazioni in agricoltura sostenibile.
Per informazioni contattare Sara Borin, sara.borin@unimi.it
Il bando verrà pubblicato al seguente link: https://www.unimi.it/it/ateneo/lavora-con-noi/reclutamento-ricercatori/selezioni-ricercatori
RTD-A AT UNIVERSITY OF MILAN, Biotechnology and Environmental Microbiology Lab (BEaMLab), Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS)
We are looking for young PhD interested in agri-environmental microbiology. A public competition will be published soon for a three-year position as RTD-A AGR/16 at the Milano University in the PNRR project Agritech. The research will be on plant-microbiome interaction, particularly focused on the formulation and characterization of biomaterials functionalized with plant growth promoting bacteria for sustainable agriculture applications.
For information contact Sara Borin, sara.borin@unimi.it
The call will be published soon at this link: https://www.unimi.it/it/ateneo/lavora-con-noi/reclutamento-ricercatori/selezioni-ricercatori
A graduate fellow position (Assegno di Ricerca) is available at the Department of Biology of the University of Padova for the project entitled: “Investigating the role of the integral membrane protein LysX2 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence”.
Starting no later than December 1st, 2022.
Duration: 18 months.
State of the Art and Research Program
We have recently identified a new gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) encoding an integral membrane protein with a putative aminoacyl-phosphatidylglycerol (aaPG) synthase domain which we named LysX2 (Boldrin F. et al. BMC Microbiology 2022, 22(1):85; doi: 10.1186/s12866-022-02493-2). AaPG synthases are widely represented among prokaryotes since several bacterial species use them to produce aminoacyl esters of phosphatidylglycerol (aaPGs) which confer resistance to low pH and antimicrobial cationic peptides (CAMPs) by increasing the net positive charge of the bacterial surface.
Upon heterologous expression of LysX2 in Mycobacterium smegmatis (whose genome does not encode this protein), we found that LysX2 conferred resistance to low pH, nitrosative stress and CAMPs. Moreover, the presence of LysX2 delayed biofilm formation, suggesting a modification of surface properties. Indeed, we found that the expression of LysX2 caused a strong decrease of the bacterial net negative charge, suggesting a modification at the level of the mycomembrane.
A remarkable characteristic of LysX2 is the periplasmic localization of its putative aaPG synthase domain. Members of the family of aaPG synthases such as MprF from Staphylococcus aureus and LysX from Mtb, have their PG synthase catalytic domain localized in the cytosol, consistent with their role in transferring a lysyl residue from a tRNALys to PG. Recently we deleted the LysX2 structural gene in Mtb and preliminary data suggest that the mutant is attenuated in a mouse model of infection. Overall, our data indicate that LysX2 is an Mtb protein, which could represent an important new virulence factor and a prototype of a new class within the family of aaPG synthases exerting its function through a novel still unknown mechanism, which is important for modulating cell surface and consequently the bacterial fitness during the infection process.
In this project we propose to characterize the role of this protein in its natural host. For this purpose, we will compare the ability of the Mtb null lysX2 mutant, its complemented strain, and their wild-type progenitor to form biofilms as well as their resistance to low pH, CAMPs and nitrosative stress. Since these stresses are encountered by Mtb upon infection of macrophages and pneumocytes, we will also test these strains in resting and activated macrophages and in a cell line of type II pneumocytes. Finally, in collaboration with Dr. Hedia Marrakchi from the Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France, we will also analyze if LysX2 is able to induce any chemical modification of the Mtb cell envelope in order to elucidate its mechanism of action.
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must hold a University degree in any of the following Life Sciences: Biology, Molecular Biology, Health Biology, Medical Biotechnologies.
The ideal candidate is an enthusiastic and committed young researcher with experience in molecular biology and cell biology who will be expected to work independently. Team skills and a good knowledge of written and spoken English are requested. As Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a risk group 3 microorganism, willingness to work in a Biosafety Level 3 Facility is mandatory.
Information: please contact: Prof.ssa Roberta Provvedi, roberta.provvedi@unipd.it
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Il Laboratorio di Fisica Ambientale al Dipartimento di Fisica di UNIGE, insieme alla sezione genovese dell'Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), gestisce l'unica camera di simulazione atmosferica italiana (ChAMBRe, https://labfisa.ge.infn.it/index.php/chambre). Nell'ambito di programmi di ricerca europei e di progetti PNRR, il laboratorio sta conducendo una ricerca sulle possibili correlazioni tra qualità dell'aria e persistenza e diffusione aerea dei microrganismi, proprio utilizzando ChAMBre. Il gruppo di ricerca è multidisciplinare e lo si vuole completare con competenze di tipo biologico (in particolare microbiologico). Il lavoro di ricerca prevede diverse collaborazioni internazionali.
Al momento è aperto il bando per un assegno di ricerca annuale di II fascia (stipendio netto ca 1800 euro/mese), con presa di servizio al 1/10/2022 (bando e modulistica al sito: https://concorsi.unige.it/home/procedure/3391;jsessionid=A43ECD568EA8D6EB2CF54D237B379BB9), scadenza delle domande 29/7/22, requisito di accesso Laurea Magistrale in biologia o chimica.
Per maggiori informazioni e/o dettagli contattare il responsabile del Laboratorio, Prof. Paolo Prati (prati@ge.infn.it; tel: 0103536439).