Many countries, including the Netherlands, have observed a resurgence of
invasive group A streptococcal (
iGAS) infections after lifting all COVID-19 control measures. In addition to shifts in affected age groups and clinical presentations, the emergence and dominance of specific emm types has been concerning.
The main objective of the
BEATGAS project is to identify bacterial and host determinants that explain the current outbreak for the Netherlands through a combination of genomic, experimental wet-lab and epidemiological research. The PhD student will investigate and compare the genomes and virulence characteristics of GAS isolates before and after the COVID period to gauge changes in its’ disease-causing potential and perform population level seroprevalence studies for specific GAS antigens using available samples before, during, and after the COVID period. Due to lack of vaccines, effective public health measures are essential to control the ongoing re-emergence and surge of iGAS in and beyond the Netherlands. With this project, we aim to generate scientific evidence to identify specific risk factors and optimize iGAS disease at the public health level in the post-COVID-19 period.
This PhD project is embedded within the BEATGAS project, which is a collaborative study involving epidemiologists at the RIVM, medical microbiologists in different Dutch hospitals and a bioinformatician (post-doc).
The project has been awarded by the Dutch Research Council (ZonMW) and will run for 4 years. The PhD student will work in the group of Prof. Nina van Sorge at the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, location AMC at the Amsterdam UMC, The Netherlands. At an international level, the project complements the work performed within the iSpy network (
Global research network to combat deadly Strep A infections | Imperial News | Imperial College London), which was recently awarded $10 million US to understand immunity to Group A streptococcus to help pave the way for vaccine development. This excellent international network will provide many interesting opportunities for collaborations within the BEATGAS project.
Your main goal is to unravel the molecular determinants of recently-emerged virulent GAS isolates by analysing genomic sequences in combination with wet-lab experiments. Wet-lab experimentation involves genetic manipulation of GAS isolates to verify loss-of function phenotypes, gene expression profiling, bacterial survival assays and possibly in vivo experiments in mouse models.
Complementary, you will perform antibody profiling studies for GAS-specific antigen in serum samples obtained before, during and after COVID-19 using multiplex flow cytometry or Luminex assays. This part of the projects aims to provide insight into the contribution of 'immunity debt' to iGAS re-emergence. The project therefore involves a wide range of in silico and in vitro techniques and is performed in close collaboration with clinical experts, epidemiologists and international GAS researchers.
Given the highly dynamic situation of iGAS epidemiology and the close collaboration with the
Netherlands Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Meningitis (NRLBM), which performs the national surveillance of iGAS, the project is likely to adopt additional projects based on emerging situations.
The results will be published in peer-reviewed international journal as well as at (inter-)national meetings. The PhD is concluded by writing a formal PhD thesis according to the University of Amsterdam requirements.