EASTBIO: Genetic variation and infectious diseases in European red deer at the Uniersity of Edinburgh

Supervisors: Fiona Houston, Silvia Perez-Espona

Red deer are one of the most numerous and widespread species of wild cervid in Europe, and represent the majority of deer farmed for venison production. Venison consumption has increased markedly in recent years, and there is considerable potential for expansion of red deer farming as farmers seek to diversify and adopt regenerative agricultural practices. Infectious diseases can affect wild and farmed red deer, and therefore have negative impacts on the natural environment and the game industry, as well as the productivity and sustainability of deer farms.

For most infectious diseases, the relative susceptibility of individuals to infection and disease is controlled by variation in multiple immune response genes that encode key molecules involved in the recognition and response to pathogens. In contrast, susceptibility to CWD, which is caused by prions, is predominantly determined by the sequence of the prion protein gene (PRNP). Although previously confined to North America, CWD is recognised as an emerging threat in Europe since its discovery in Norwegian wild reindeer in 2016.

In a previous survey of British wild deer, we found the greatest number of PRNP haplotypes in red deer populations, and identified polymorphisms not seen in North American cervids exposed to CWD (therefore with unknown effects on disease susceptibility). Furthermore, compared to other farmed livestock, there has been relatively little research in red deer into variation in immune response genes and the signatures of natural selection due to exposure to infectious diseases.

We have access to DNA samples from red deer in numerous locations in Europe, collected as part of an EU research consortium on CWD. Due to the different environmental conditions, we hypothesize that these populations will have been subject to different infectious disease challenges, reflected in differences in the frequencies of specific haplotypes/variants of immune response genes and PRNP. This project will determine the extent of variation in PRNP and key immune response genes among European red deer populations (including farmed red deer), infer the evolutionary history among sequences through phylogenetic analyses, and identify signatures of selection in the different genes studied.  Novel PRNP variants will also be tested using in vitro assays to predict their effect on susceptibility to CWD.

The outcomes of the project will include increased understanding of immunogenetic and PRNP variation and evolutionary relationships in European red deer populations, and potential practical applications (e.g. breeding for disease resistance, vaccine development) of value to deer farmers and wildlife managers.

• This 4 year PhD project is part of a competition funded by EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/how-apply-0

• EASTBIO Application and Reference Forms can be downloaded via www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/how-apply-0

• Please send your completed EASTBIO Application Form along with a copy of your academic transcripts to [email protected]

• You should also ensure that two references have been send to [email protected]  by the deadline using the EASTBIO Reference Form

This opportunity is open to UK and international students and provides funding covering stipend and UK level tuition fees.  The University of Edinburgh covers the difference between home and international fees meaning that the EASTBIO DTP offers fully-funded studentships to all appointees.  There is a cap on the number of international students the DTP recruits.  It is therefore important for us to know from the outset which fees status category applicants will fall under when applying to our university.

Please refer to UKRI websiteand Annex B of the UKRI Training Grant Terms and Conditionsfor full eligibility criteria.