PhD in Hematology (M/F)

The plasmodium transmission biology team is headed by Dr C Lavazec , DR1 CNRS and the thesis will be directed by Dr F Verdier, DR2 CNRS. The Institut Cochin is a multidisciplinary research center with high-performance technological platforms.

Impairment of erythropoiesis by Plasmodium falciparum: Identification of the parasitic factors involved

Anemia is a frequent and serious consequence of Plasmodium infection in malaria patients. Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) is the species responsible for most severe forms of malaria. There are many causes of anemia, but the main ones are hemolysis and splenic retention of erythrocytes. Recent work has suggested that abnormalities in erythropoiesis may also contribute significantly to malarial anemia.
Data obtained in vitro by our team have indeed shown that Pf affects erythropoiesis.

The objectives of this thesis are therefore
1- Identify the parasitic factors responsible for alterations in erythropoiesis
2- Functionally validate their involvement
3- To demonstrate in vivo in malaria patients these identified factors and correlate their presence with a suppression of erythropoiesis.

Methodologies: Omics approaches (transcriptomics, proteomics), Plasmodium culture, primary erythroblast culture, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence microscopy, molecular biology.