We are looking for a Master 2 student (M/F) for a 6-month internship within the ProbiHôte team at the MICALIS Institute (INRAE UMR1319) located in Jouy-en-Josas.
The intern will participate in a project funded by the Vaincre La Mucoviscidose association on the study of the role of the intestinal microbiota in intestinal pathophysiology in response to CFTR modulators.
Project summary:
The gastrointestinal symptoms of cystic fibrosis are common and impact the quality of life of people affected by this disease. The relief of these symptoms has been identified as an important research priority for patients. As in the lungs, CFTR mutations lead to an accumulation of mucus on the surface of the epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract. While the management of cystic fibrosis has been transformed in recent years by the arrival of CFTR modulators, their effects on gastrointestinal symptoms are not completely elucidated. Thanks to the KAF-BIOTA bio-collection, this program proposes to study the role of the intestinal microbiota associated or not with treatment by triple therapy (ivacaftor/tezacaftor/elexacaftor) on intestinal manifestations in cystic fibrosis. The objective of our study is to understand the link between CFTR deficiency, intestinal microbiota and pathology of the digestive tract in the context of triple therapy with Kaftrio®. To this end, in a first part of the project, we will analyze metabolites in the stools of patients before or after the start of treatment with Kaftrio® and we will test the effect of these on inflammation in intestinal cells.
In this context, the intern will participate in the following axes and experiments:
1 – Preparation of samples to be tested:
- Aliquoting in anaerobic conditions
- Centrifugation / filtration / conservation
2 – Extraction and Quantification of short-chain fatty acids in stools (chromatography)
3 – Quantification of protease activity in stools
4 – Functional study of the effect of stools on intestinal inflammation in vitro
- Cell culture (lines) on semi-permeable supports
- Measurement of epithelial integrity and protease activity
- ELISA (markers of inflammation)
Expected skills:
- Organizational skills, rigor
- Curiosity and great motivation
- Communication and interpersonal skills (teamwork)
- Knowledge of molecular biology and cell biology
- Experience with the following techniques is a plus: cell culture, ELISA, Chromatography
Informations:
Please send your CV, cover letter, M1 grades and letter of recommendation (optional) to vinciane.saint-criq@inrae.fr
Contact: Vinciane Saint-Criq (ProbiHôte)
Starting period: Jan 6th, 2025
