Download Risk of sexual transmission of Zika virus infection

SGUL/LSHTM MRC London Intercollegiate Doctoral Training Partnership – 2017/18 Potential PhD Projects
Title of PhD project
Risk of sexual transmission of Zika virus infection: a
study among sex workers and their clients in an endemic
area of coastal Ecuador
Supervisor
Prof Phil Cooper
SGUL
Co-Supervisor
Dr Tariq Sadiq
SGUL
Brief description of project
Zika virus (ZV), an RNA virus that has spread rapidly
throughout tropical regions of Latin America has been
detected in seminal fluid and vulvovinal fluids for several
months after acute infection with documented cases of sexual
transmission of ZV. The project will involve laboratory and
epidemiological field work in a coastal area of Ecuador where
Zika virus transmission has become epidemic and where we
are currently studying sexually transmitted infections among
sex workers and their clients. The study will examine viral
persistence post-infection and potential risks of sexual
transmission of infection a well as the genetic evolution of
viral strains.
Particular prior educational
requirements for a student
undertaking this project
Familiarity with or training in epidemiology and biostatistics;
laboratory experience of molecular biological techniques
including PCR; knowledge of or willingness to learn Spanish.
Skills we expect a student
to develop/acquire whilst
pursuing this project
Field methods in epidemiology including administration of
questionnaires; biostatistics; sample processing and analysis
for real-time PCR and sequencing; phylogenetics; training in
good clinical practice.
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