A Postdoctoral Fellow position is available immediately in the Department of Molecular Cardiology in the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute to study the effects of interaction of leukocyte beta 2-integrins with C. albicans pH-regulated antigen 1 on the innate immune response to fungal infection.

The most prominent receptors on leukocytes utilized in fungal or microbial recognition are the beta 2-integrins, and integrin αMβ2 (Mac-1, CD11b/CD18, CR3) is critical in leukocyte recognition of the pathogenic fungus C. albicans. Recently we identified C. albicans pH-regulated antigen 1 (Pra1p, Fbp1, mp58) as a major ligand of αMβ2 among C.albicans proteins (Soloviev et al, J. Immunol, 2007). Pra1p as a fungal cell wall surface-bound protein may serve as a primarily target for leukocyte binding to the fungus with subsequent killing and/or phagocytosis, and as a released protein which may function as a soluble decoy. As the induction of cell-mediated immunity to C. albicans is of major importance in host antifungal defense, we are seeking a fellow to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in αMβ2 - Pra1p interaction.
The project use a variety of biochemical, immunological and cytological approaches, including direct measurements of protein-protein interactions, protein mutagenesis, in vitro cell culture assays and in vivo murine models.

Persons with background in Candida science are encouraged to apply. Candidates should have a M.D. or Ph.D. degree in cell biology, biochemistry, medical mycology, or a closely related discipline. The ideal candidate will have experience with primary human cell culture, mouse models and husbandry, and protein chemistry/molecular biology skills.

Please send curriculum vitae, research interests, a list of publications, and the names and complete contact information of three references by email to Dr. Dmitry Soloviev at solovjd@ccf.org.

To apply: Please send curriculum vitae, research interests, a list of publications, and the names and complete contact information of three references by email to Dr. Dmitry Soloviev at solovjd@ccf.org.

Cleveland Clinic has a long-standing reputation for excellence in patient care, education and clinical and basic research. USNews & World Report has consistently ranked Cleveland Clinic among the best hospitals in the USA. In 2009, it ranked Cleveland Clinic as the fourth best hospital overall in the United States and our Heart Center as the top in the nation for the 15th consecutive year.

The Lerner Research Institute is home to Cleveland Clinic's laboratory-based, translational and clinical research. Nearly 200 investigators and their teams pursue a wide range of biomedical questions. The Lerner Research Institute is a growing institution and this number increases every year. Altogether more than 1,200 scientists and support personnel work at the Lerner Research Institute. This includes more than 250 faculty-level scientists, 269 postdoctoral fellows and 175 graduate students. In 2008, Faculty research appeared in 1,257 publications, including 1,161 journal articles, 83 book chapters and 13 books. Many of these were in highly respected peer-reviewed high-impact journals. The research laboratories at the Lerner Research Institute are supported by an outstanding array of subsidized, state-of-the-art Core Facilities. The interactive spirit at the Lerner Research Institute makes this a truly exciting place to do research!

NIH funding alone was an estimated $75 million in 2008. Its total research budget (external and internal sources) was $258 million in 2008.