The Laboratory of Infection Biology at the Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague is seeking a talented and highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join our team in the field of Structural Biology.

Position summary:

We invite applications for a postdoctoral position focused on the structural characterization of the tip complex of the type III secretion system injectisome in Gram-negative bacteria. This position is part of several ongoing, multidisciplinary projects led by Dr. Jana Kamanova.

Research description:

The type III secretion system injectisome is a key virulence factor used by many Gram-negative pathogens to inject effector proteins directly from the bacterial cytosol into host cells. This complex nanomachine consists of a cytosolic sorting platform, a basal body, a needle-like protrusion, and a translocon that forms a pore in the host cell membrane. In genera such as Bordetella and Aeromonas, the needle exhibits a unique filamentous tip, whose structure and interactions with other injectisome components are not well understood. Our lab explores these filamentous tips in Bordetella and Aeromonas genus using super-resolution fluorescence microscopy and genetic engineering. The selected candidate will visualize these structures in situ using electron microscopy. In addition, the selected candidate will purify the relevant proteins from native or heterologous expression systems and perform detailed structural and biochemical analyses.

Candidate profile:

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher with a strong foundation in structural biology and a genuine interest in interdisciplinary research.