Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology

Project description:

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in the central nervous system (CNS) induced by encephalitogenic CD4+ T cells. Our group is investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of MS pathogeneses using experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as an animal model of MS. We visualized how the T cells infiltrate into the CNS through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) using intravital imaging. In addition, we also visualized that T cells become activated in the CNS, which is crucial step for the pathogenesis. Furthermore, we performed CRISPR-based genome-wide screen to identify the crucial regulators for the infiltration of T cell infiltration at the onset of EAE. However, still many questions remain, for example, how the CNS-infiltrating T cells become activated and how the encephalitogenic T cells migrate into the inflamed CNS.

To answer these questions, we will apply cutting-edge technologies, including intravital imaging, CRISPR-gene editing, and transcriptome analysis. To conduct these experiments, we need image analysis as well as bioinformatic analysis of the CRISPR screen and the transcriptome. Therefore, we are seeking a PhD candidate who will primarily focus on precise data analysis. Knowledge of immunology, cell biology, and light microscopy is advantageous.