Re: Project interest of- Immune Correlates to emerging infections in humans

I am currently an MSc student in the UK studying Medical Microbiology, virology stream. This has be a great interest to be thus far and will cntinue to be for the future.

I have immense interest in research involving the immune correlates of human infections, especially Coronaviridae and Orthomyxoviridae as these are areas that require further research in order to identify the mechanisms of replication and immunity to formulate new ideas for future vaccines and anti-virals. This is an exciting area of research that I would be privileged to take part in as emerging human infections have great effects on both the developing and developed world with economic importance and high mortality rates (shown in history). In order to avert a pandemic it is necessary to control the animal H5N1 infection at present, and to do this we must analyse the mechanisms of, not only the structure of this strain, but also research into new targets, this would be an interesting research area.
My background knowledge of biomedical science and currently of molecular virology will greatly help in various aspects of this project.
I also have great interest is gaining the techniques used in a project of this type which would include ELISPOT, DNA cloning and sequencing, T and B cell cloning, and flow cytometry.

If you would like to converse with me about this arear of research that would be great! I am searching for a PhD post in this area, in the UK for October 2008..

If you could help, that would be very much appreciated.

Thanks for your time