Evolutionary and functional approaches... Dijon

Ph.D. Position, Universite de Bourgogne (Dijon, France), UMR CNRS
Biogeosciences, Evolutionary Ecology team - supervisors: Pr Frank Cezilly, Ass.
Pr. Marie-Jeanne Perrot-Minnot (HDR)

Evolutionary and functional approaches to the role of serotonin in parasitic
manipulation of phototactism and olfaction-based antipredator behaviours

A PhD position is available to work on parasitic manipulation using
acanthocephalan parasites and their freshwater crustaceans intermediate hosts
as a model system. Our previous work has shown that some acanthocephalan
parasites alter the reaction to light of their amphipod intermediate hosts and
their behavioural responses to chemical cues from predators used as final host,
and that these behavioural changes do increase the parasites trophic
transmission to their final hosts (fish). Recently, we have reported on the
involvement of a highly conserved neuromodulator, the serotonin, in
parasite-induced altered phototactism.
The proposed framework for this PhD study is to further investigate the role of
serotonin in altered phototactism and anti-predator defense in various
crustacean host - acanthocephalan parasite associations, by combining
behavioural assays, etho-pharmacology, immunocytochemistry and proteomics. The
functional link between brain serotonergic activity and altered photoactism will
be established, in particular by investigating which 5-HT receptors are involved
and whether these signalling pathways are altered by the parasite. The role of
serotonin in olfactory response of infected and uninfected hosts to predators
will also be addressed. In parallel, excretion - secretion products from
infectious parasites will be screened for proteins potentially involved in
these changes of serotonergic activity using proteomic tools.
Our questions ultimately relate to the adaptive significance of parasitic
manipulation, by unravelling the complexity of the underlying mechanisms and
investigating their degree of evolutionary convergence in different amphipod -
acanthocephalan systems.

The ideal candidate has an interest in addressing proximate and ultimate
questions in evolutionary parasitology, by combining etho-pharmacology,
biochemistry, neurophysiology and behavioural ecology. He or she has a
background in any of the relevant fields - evolutionary parasitology,
behavioural ecology, or invertebrate neurosciences - , and an MSc. degree is
required. The salary comes as a grant from the french ministry of higher
education and research (around 1200 euros/month). The duration of the PhD is 3
years.
Preferred starting date 1rst November 2007 or thereafter.

Please send applications, with a full CV, a short description of research
experience and interest in this position, and names of referees to Pr Frank
Cezilly (fcezill@u-bourgogne.fr) and to Dr Marie-Jeanne Perrot-Minnot
(mjperrot@u-bourgogne.fr) by the 7th of september. Screening of applications
will end on the 13th of september. For more information, you may check our web
pages (www.u-bourgogne.fr/BIOGEOSCIENCE/cezilly and www.
u-bourgogne.fr/BIOGEOSCIENCE/perrot).


Marie-Jeanne Perrot-Minnot

Equipe Ecologie Evolutive
UMR CNRS 5561 Biogeosciences
Université de Bourgogne
6, Blvd Gabriel 21000 Dijon, France
tel : (33) 3 80 39 63 40 / fax : 62 31
www.u-bourgogne.fr/BIOGEOSCIENCE/perrot

Marie-Jeanne Perrot-Minnot-Cezilly <Marie-Jeanne.Perrot@u-bourgogne.fr>