*** Context ***
In both aquaculture and agriculture, a large number of diseases are caused by fungal-like micro-organisms, classified as oomycetes or water moulds. One of such oomycetes is a fish pathogen Saprolegnia parasitica, which severely affects fish farming by infecting fish eggs as well as salmonid fish. Resulting losses amount to around 30% of global annual fish production, with corresponding financial damage to the aquaculture industry every year.
Recently, we have identified few novel potential compounds which are effective against the pathogen using computational and biochemical approaches.

This degree project aims to perform a large scale comparative proteomics study to investigate the effects of inhibitors on Saprolegnia proteome at the molecular level. The identification of specific drug targets through this work will be significant for further characterization of such key proteins and for refinement of drug molecules to increase its effectiveness.

*** Your project ***
Your main role in this project will be identification of key target proteins through mass spectrometry based comparative proteomics. You will start by growing pathogen culture in the lab in presence of selected drugs. This will be followed by protein extraction, protein separation by electrophoresis and chromatographic techniques. You will also digest proteins both in-gel and in-solution, followed by mass spectrometry. The last part of the project will invlove data analysis through different online programs and you will also perform bioinformatic analysis on selected set of proteins.

*** Environment ***
You will be hosted in the Division of Glycoscience, in the School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (Stockholm, Sweden) located in AlbaNova. Our laboratory provides students with a dynamic, international, and multidisciplinary research environment. You will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with protein extraction, separation, purification, digestion and identification by mass spectrometry.

*** Contact ***
Vaibhav Srivastava
vasri@kth.se
visit: https://www.kth.se/profile/vasri

We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated students, who enjoy working as part of a team as well as independently. Ideally, candidates have some previous practical experience or interested in learning methods used in molecular biology/biochemistry. Please send us a short description of your relevant work experience, your CV, and your motivation.