While we know individuals can respond very differently to the same viral infection, single-cell studies have shown this is even the case for different cells within the same infected individual. Single cell virology approaches which have traditionally employed microscopy, FACS, microfluidics or scRNAseq have been characterising this process, but often require either modification of the virus to express a reporter gene (e.g. GFP) or provide information only on RNA expression. For viruses whose replication is regulated by post-translational protein modfications, e.g. coronaviruses, caliciviruses, and picornaviruses, protein- and PTM-level readouts are essential. This is especially true when current antivirals are targeting viral enzymes or post-translational events (e.g. protease inhibitors). An understanding of this process at single-cell level offers the chance to better understand how viruses interact with inhibitors, evasion mechanisms, and ultimately improve treatment strategies and therapeutics.

In this project, you will apply single-cell proteomics by mass spectrometry to the study of viral infection. You will gain skills in LC-MS/MS proteomics, cellenONE-based sample preparation, and molecular virology approaches. You will be based in Ed Emmott’s lab, part of the Centre for Proteome Research, and the Department of Biochemistry, Cell & Systems Biology at the University of Liverpool, with access to cutting-edge equipment including a cellenONE for single-cell sample preparation, containment level 3 laboratories, and the latest generation Orbitrap Astral Zoom for mass spectrometry analysis.

While we know individuals can respond very differently to the same viral infection, single-cell studies have shown this is even the case for different cells within the same infected individual. Single cell virology approaches which have traditionally employed microscopy, FACS, microfluidics or scRNAseq have been characterising this process, but often require either modification of the virus to express a reporter gene (e.g. GFP) or provide information only on RNA expression. For viruses whose replication is regulated by post-translational protein modfications, e.g. coronaviruses, caliciviruses, and picornaviruses, protein- and PTM-level readouts are essential. This is especially true when current antivirals are targeting viral enzymes or post-translational events (e.g. protease inhibitors). An understanding of this process at single-cell level offers the chance to better understand how viruses interact with inhibitors, evasion mechanisms, and ultimately improve treatment strategies and therapeutics.

In this project, you will apply single-cell proteomics by mass spectrometry to the study of viral infection. You will gain skills in LC-MS/MS proteomics, cellenONE-based sample preparation, and molecular virology approaches. You will be based in Ed Emmott’s lab, part of the Centre for Proteome Research, and the Department of Biochemistry, Cell & Systems Biology at the University of Liverpool, with access to cutting-edge equipment including a cellenONE for single-cell sample preparation, containment level 3 laboratories, and the latest generation Orbitrap Astral Zoom for mass spectrometry analysis.