Genetic variation and infectious diseases in European red deer at the University of Edinburgh

Supervisors: Fiona Houston and Sílvia Pérez-Espona

Closing Date:  5th January 2022

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. Infectious diseases of wild and farmed red deer have negative impacts on the natural environment and game industry, as well as the productivity of deer farms.

The relative susceptibility of individuals to infectious diseases is controlled by variation in immune response genes that encode key molecules involved in the recognition and response to pathogens. In contrast, susceptibility to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), 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 survey of British wild deer, we found the greatest number of PRNP haplotypes in red deer populations, and identified polymorphisms with unknown effects on CWD susceptibility [1]. In addition, research assessing variation in immune response genes and the signatures of natural selection due to exposure to infectious diseases in red deer is still limited.

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 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 [2],[3] 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.

References

1. Robinson, A.L., et al., Variation in the prion protein gene (PRNP) sequence of wild deer in Great Britain and mainland Europe. Vet Res, 2019. 50(1): p. 59.

1. Quéméré, E., et al., Pathogen-mediated selection favours the maintenance of innate immunity gene polymorphism in a widespread wild ungulate. J Evol Biol, 2021. 34(7): p. 1156-1166.

1. Pérez-Espona, S., et al.,. First assessment of MHC diversity in wild Scottish red deer populations. Eur. J. Wildl. Res. , 2019. 65:22.

Funding information and application procedures

We would encourage applicants to list up to three projects of interest (ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice) from those listed with a closing date of 5th January 2022 at https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/work-study/opportunities/studentships 

This opportunity is open to UK and international students and provides funding to cover stipend, tuition fees and consumable/travel costs.  Applications including a statement of interest and full CV with names and addresses (including email addresses) of two academic referees, should be emailed to [email protected].

When applying for the studentship please state clearly the project title/s and the supervisor/s in your covering letter.

A webinar will be held on Tuesday 14th December at 13.00hrs (UK time) to assist you in the application process and tell you a little more about studying for a PhD with us.  It will also give you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have.  If interested in joining us please send your name and email address to [email protected]by Friday 10th December and we will send you a link to the on line meeting

ALL APPLICATION PROCEDURES MUST BE COMPLETED BY THE CLOSING DATE 5th JANUARY 2022