Name: Dr. John P. Morrissey
Position: Lecturer
T: 353 (0)21 490 2396
F: 353 (0)21 490 3101
E: j.morrissey@ucc.ie
Biography
Academic Career
1986-1990: BSc, University College Cork, Ireland
1990-1995: PhD, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany 1996-1998: Post-doctoral research, University of California, Berkeley, USA 1998-2000: Post-doctoral research, John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK
2000-2001: Research scientist, Biomerit Research Centre, UCC
2001-Pres : Lecturer, Microbiology Department, UCC
Additional Positions and Awards
Chair, Microbiology Programme Graduate Studies Committee
Principle Investigator, Environmental Research Institute, UCC
Teaching areas
Fundamental Microbiology and Genetics
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Microbial Ecology
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Gene Regulation in Eukarya
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Microbial and Yeast Biotechnology
Research interests and expertise
Yeast Biotechnology
Microbial signalling
Microbe-host interactions
Fungal pathogenesis
Environmental and Marine Biotechnology
Research
Research Overview
Our research covers a number of areas that span fundamental research and the application of research knowledge in biotechnology. The largest research theme is sensing and signalling in yeasts and includes project areas such as bacterial-fungal interactions, calcium-regulated signal transduction pathways and yeast response to environmental stress. The yeasts in which we are most interested are those with biotechnological applications such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces marxianus, and those that can be pathogens of humans such as Candida glabrata and Candida albicans. We are also interested in the opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, which can infect similar patient sets as C. albicans. As well as trying to enhance our fundamental understanding of the biology of these yeasts and fungi, we are exploring their exploitation in biotechnology and have several projects investigating pathways and traits that are of industrial importance in S. cerevisiae and K. marxianus. We have also recently joined a biodiscovery programme in the Marine Biotechnology Centre, UCC, and are particularly interested in identifying novel metabolites that module yeast signal transduction pathways. Finally, we are engaged in a long-standing collaboration with the Biomerit Research Centre, UCC in the field of Microbial Ecology and plant-microbe interactions and have several projects in these areas.
Selected Recent Publications
Lane, MM, Morrissey, JP. 2010. Kluyveromyces marxianus: a yeast emerging from its sister’s shadow. Fungal Biology Reviews. In Press
Mooij, M., O'Connor, H., Tian, Wang, YP, Adams, C., Morrissey, JP and O'Gara, F. 2010. Antibiotic selection leads to inadvertent selection of nfxC-type phenotypic mutants in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Env Micro Rep. 2::461-464
Miller S, Browne P, Prigent-Combaret C, Combes-Meynet, E, Morrissey JP, O’Gara F. 2010. Functional genomics of inorganic phosphate solubilisation systems in Pseudomonas species. Env Micro Rep. 2: 403-411
Moroni AV, Arendt EK, Morrissey JP, Bello FD. 2010. Development of buckwheat and teff sourdoughs with the use of commercial starters.Int J Food Microbiol. Epub Jun 23.
PMID: 20643489
Holcombe LJ, McAlester G, Munro CA, Enjalbert B, Brown AJ, Gow NA, Ding C, Butler G, O'Gara F, Morrissey JP. 2010. Pseudomonas aeruginosa secreted factors impair biofilm development in Candida albicans. Microbiology. 156:1476-86.
PMID: 20150241
Gleeson O, O'Gara F, Morrissey JP. 2010 . The Pseudomonas fluorescens secondary metabolite 2,4 diacetylphloroglucinol impairs mitochondrial function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 2010 97:261-73.
PMID: 20091224
Kennedy J, Flemer B, Jackson SA, Lejon DP, Morrissey JP, O'Gara F, Dobson AD. 2010
Marine metagenomics: new tools for the study and exploitation of marine microbial metabolism. Mar Drugs. 8(3):608-28.
PMID: 20411118
Baker PW, Kennedy J, Morrissey J, O'Gara F, Dobson AD, Marchesi JR. 2010. Endoglucanase activities and growth of marine-derived fungi isolated from the sponge Haliclona simulans. J Appl Microbiol. 108(5):1668-75.
PMID: 19840179
Browne P, Rice O, Miller SH, Burke J, Dowling DN, Morrissey JP, O’Gara F. 2009 Superior inorganic phosphate solubilization is linked to phylogeny within the Pseudomonas fluorescens complex. Applied Soil Ecology. 43: 131-138.
Heavin SB, Brennan OM, Morrissey JP, O'Byrne CP. 2009. Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes by acetate, benzoate and sorbate: weak acid tolerance is not influenced by the glutamate decarboxylase system.Lett Appl Microbiol. 49:179-85.
PMID: 19422474
Moynihan JA, Morrissey JP, Coppoolse ER, Stiekema WJ, O'Gara F, Boyd EF. 2009. Evolutionary history of the phl gene cluster in the plant-associated bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens. Appl Environ Microbiol. 75:2122-31.
PMID: 19181839
McAlester, G, O’Gara F and Morrissey JP. 2008. Signal-mediated interactions between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. J. Med Micro. 57:563-9.
PMID: 18436588
O'Grady E, Mulcahy H, Adams C, Morrissey JP, O'Gara F. 2007. Manipulation of host Kruppel-like factor (KLF) function by exotoxins from diverse bacterial pathogens. Nat Rev Microbiol. 5:337-41.
PMID: 17435789
Collins CM, Murray PG, Denman S, Morrissey JP, Byrnes L, Teeri TT, Tuohy MG. 2007.
Molecular cloning and expression analysis of two distinct beta-glucosidase genes, bg1 and aven1, with very different biological roles from the thermophilic, saprophytic fungus Talaromyces emersonii. Mycol Res. 111:840-9.
PMID: 17664063
Power T, Ortoneda M, Morrissey JP, Dobson AD. 2006. Differential expression of genes involved in iron metabolism in Aspergillus fumigatus. Int Micro. 9: 281.
PMID: 17236162
Simons, V, Morrissey, J.P., Latijnhouwers, M., Csukai, M., Cleaver, A., Yarrow, C. and Osbourn, AE. 2006. Dual effects of plant steroidal alkaloids on Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 50: 2732.
PMID: 16870766
Mark, GL, J. Maxwell Dow, Pat Kiely, Hazel Higgins, Jill Haynes, Christine Baysse, Abelhamid Abbas, Tara Foley, Ashley Franks, John Morrissey and Fergal O’Gara. 2006. Elucidation of molecular interactions in the rhizosphere directed by transcriptome profiling of bacterial responses to root exudates. Proc. Natl Acad Sci USA. 71:1818. PMID: 16629747
Dandie, CE, Estibaliz Larrainzar , G. Louise Mark, Fergal O’Gara and John P. Morrissey. 2005. Establishment of DsRed.T3_S4T as an improved autofluorescent marker for microbial ecology applications. Environmental Microbiology. 7:1818.
PMID: 16232296
Cullinane M., Morrissey, J.P., Baysse, C., Dow, J., and O’Gara, F. 2005. Identification of LPA acyltransferases involved in membrane phospholipid biosynthesis in Pseudomonas fluorescens. Microbiology. 151:3071.
PMID: 16151217
Baysse C, Cullinane M, Dénervaud V, Burrowes E, Dow JM, Morrissey JP, Tam L, Trevors JT, O'Gara F. 2005. Modulation of quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa through alteration of membrane properties. Microbiology. 151:2529-42.
PMID: 16079332
Larrainzar E, O'Gara F, Morrissey JP. 2005. Applications of Autofluorescent Proteins for In Situ Studies in Microbial Ecology. Annu Rev Microbiol.59:257.
PMID: 16153170
Morrissey, J.P., Dow, J.M., Mark, G.L., and O’Gara, F. 2004. Are Microbes at the root of a solution to world food production? EMBO Reports. 5: 922
PMID: 15459741
Finnan, S., Morrissey, J.P., O'Gara, F., and Boyd, E.F. 2004. Genome diversity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from cystic fibrosis patients and the hospital environment. J Clin Micro. 42:5783
PMID: 15583313
Research funding and grants
Science Foundation Ireland, Research Frontiers Programme (09/2008 – 08/2011)
Signalling and signal transduction in yeast. Grant number 08-RFP-GEN1319
Enterprise Ireland Innovation Partnership (09/2008 – 09/2010)
Understanding parameters influencing yeast flocculation during fermentation of whey permeate to ethanol. Grant number IP/2008/0559
Dept of Agriculture and Dept of Natural Resources (09/2008 – 08/2015)
Beaufort Award in Marine Biodiscovery
European Science Foundation Networking grant (10/2008 – 09/2011)
Functional genomics in Aspergillus fumigatus
European Union FP6 Programme. Food quality and safety (11/2006 – 03/2010)
Management of Plant Beneficial microbes to balance fertiliser inputs in maize monoculture. Grant number FP6#O36314.
Department of Agriculture FIRM & RSF programmes (10/2006 – 03/2010)
Innovative Processes in malting and Brewing. Grant Number 06RDC506
Investigating the molecular basis of cross protection from stresses in food of spoilage and pathogenic microbes. Grant Number 06RDC459
Microbial-Mediated solubilisation of phosphate (P) for sustainable agriculture: influence of low-input decision-based management practice. Grant number 06-321
EPA pre-doctoral grant (10/2006 – 03/2010)
Assessing the impact that plant species may have on the diversity and activity of phosphate-solubilising soil microbes
EU Marie Curie ToK site award (04/2006 – 08/2010)
Transfer of Knowledge in Microbial Signal Transduction Pathways: TRAMWAYS
Research
Group and colloborators
Yeast Biotechnology
Dr Lucy Holcombe
Melanie Lane
Danielle Troppens
Iwona Kozak
Niall Burke
Marine Biodiscovery Centre
Dr Jonathon Kennedy
Lekha Margassery
Stephen Jackson
Robert Phelan
Burkhardt Fleming
Microbial Ecology
Dr Olivia Rice
Patrick Browne
Jennifer Moynihan
Key Internal Collaborating Groups (on funded projects)
Prof Fergal O’ Gara, Biomerit Research Centre, UCC.
Prof Alan Dobson, Environmental Research Institute, UCC.
Key External Academic Collaborators (on funded projects)
Prof Nick Read, Edinburgh University (Calcium signaling in fungi)
Prof Neil Gow & Prof Al Brown, Aberdeen University (Pseudomonas-Candida interactions)
Dr Concha Gil, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Candida- host interactions)
Prof Jean-Paul Latge, Pasteur Institute, France (Aspergillus fumigatus)
Prof Yvanne Moenne-Loccoz, Lyon University, France (Pseudomonas ecology and applications)
Key Industrial Collaborators on funded projects)
Carbery Group, Balineen, Co. Cork, Ireland
Research Projects in the group
Yeast Biotechnology
Many yeast species have applications in the biotechnology industry and in production of fermented beverages. Our focus in this area is on developing and exploiting knowledge of metabolic pathways and cellular processes in yeasts within the Saccharomyces and Kluyveromyces genera. S. cerevisiae is widely used in biotechnology for production of fermented beverages (beer, wine, cider), bioethanol, enzymes, proteins and therapeutic products and there is considerable interest in using modern technologies to generate strains with new functions and traits. One of our interests is in exploiting knowledge of metabolic pathways to manipulate sugar metabolism in Brewer’s yeast to generate strains that produce reduced levels of ethanol without the production of undesirable side products. Other projects deal with the yeasts K. marxianus and K. lactis, both of which have GRAS (US – Generally Regarded As Safe) and QPS (EU – Qualified Presumption of Safety) status and are widely used in the food industry and for production of food grade enzymes. Research into industrially relevant traits, however, lags significantly behind that of S. cerevisiae and we are addressing this through our research. We are particularly interested in K. marxianus and in traits such as ethanol production and flocculation and are pursing research in this area in collaboration with an industrial partner.
Yeasts as Agents of Food Spoilage
Many different species of yeast are responsible for food spoilage in the food and beverage industry. We are primarily interested in the mechanisms that spoilage yeasts use to overcome food preservation measures such as salt, sugar or organic acids as well are processes like heat or pressure treatment. One of the key preservation strategies is the addition of weak organic acids such as citrate, lactate or sorbate and understanding the ways in which spoilage yeast respond to these acids is a major research interest in the group. Knowledge of the genes and pathways that are important for survival under preservation conditions may offer opportunities for sensitive detection and control strategies.
Molecular signalling between bacteria and fungi
In recent years, it has become apparent that microbes use extracellular signals and metabolites to communicate within their own species and also with other species in their community. Some of these secreted metabolites have anti-growth activities, especially at higher concentrations, but others modulate cellular physiology and phenotypes in more subtle ways. We are interested in microbial signaling, in particular that which can occur between two opportunistic pathogens, the bacterium P. aeruginosa and the yeast C. albicans. These microbes infect similar niches, for example burn wounds and the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung, and can cause serious illness in susceptible patients. In our work, we established that there is bidirectional signaling between the bacterium and the yeast, with each having a negative impact on traits known to be important for virulence in the other. Our main focus has been the effects of bacterial signals on C. albicans and we found that a collection of clinical strains could affect phenotypes like dimorphism, surface adhesion and biofilm formation. We are currently using molecular techniques to determine the mechanism by which the bacterial signals are perceived and responded to by the yeast.
Calcium-regulated signal transduction and homeostasis in yeast
Calcium ions (Ca2+) are used as a second messenger in all eukarya to respond to stimuli and signals from outside the cell. In fungi, this is best studied in the yeast S. cerevisiae, where specific channels open in response to stress or signals, leading to a transient increase in cytosolic Ca2+, activation of the calmodulin/calcineurin system and ultimate activation of expression of downstream genes. We are developing methods to accurately measure the levels and kinetics of Ca2+ transients in the yeast cell, with the aim of facilitating a systems approach to understand how the cells uses the same second messenger (Ca2+) to respond to diverse signals. These methods are based on very accurate measurements of Ca2+ using the photoprotein aequeorin. Our main focus is on developing methods in S. cerevisiae but we are also developing reporters that can be used in the opportunistic pathogen C. glabrata.
Effects of the bacterial metabolite 2,4 diacetylphloroglucinol on fungi
Some strains of the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens produce the secondary metabolite 2,4 diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG), which is known to have antifungal activity. Because of this, these bacterial strains have the potential to be used as biological control agents of phytopathogenic fungi and oomycetes. We are investigating the mechanism by which DAPG impairs fungal growth. Our main model for these studies is the yeast S. cerevisiae. We have made use of a range of molecular tools available, including collections of defined mutants and fluorescent probes, to determine that the metabolite affects mitochondrial function. We are currently investigating some additional physiological effects of DAPG and also looking at mechanisms by which fungal resistance occurs.
Signalling pathways in fungal pathogens
Our work on sensing and signaling pathways in fungi also extends to pathogenic fungi and in addition to the areas mentioned above, we have active research interest in the yeast C. glabrata and the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. The major focus with C. glabrata is on the importance of Ca2+ mediated signaling, whereas our interest with A. fumigatus centres on the signal transduction pathways used to respond to nitrogen limitation in the environment, especially the TOR pathway. Our work has uncovered some key differences between the pathogen A. fumigatus and the related non-pathogen A. nidulans, and we are currently investigating the significance of these differences with a view to understanding how A. fumigatus is able to survive and establish a pathogenic interaction in susceptible human hosts.
Biodiscovery and Marine Biotechnology
The biotechnological potential of the marine environment is considered to be largely untapped and we are part of a focused biodiscovery programme in the Marine Biotechnology Centre, UCC. This programme seeks to identify novel bioactive metabolites and enzymes from marine sponge-associated microbes. This programme includes studies on the microbial ecology of marine sponges, the construction of culture collections and the generation of metagenomic libraries. These collections and libraries are being screened for novel biologically active metabolites (antimicrobials, antibiofilm, signal transduction modulators) in bacterial and eukaryal systems. The aim is to identify new activities that can be further exploited for biotechnological application.
Microbial ecology: Pseudomonas fluorescens
As well as our interest in bacterial-fungal interactions, itself an aspect of microbial ecology, we are also interested in how microbes function in their natural environment. Our particular focus is the plant-associated bacterium P. fluorescens and most of our work in this area is in collaboration with the Biomerit Research Centre, UCC. At one level, we are interested in the bacterial secondary metabolite, 2,4 diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG) – see above, and its effect on fungi. In addition, however, we are interested in the distribution and origins of clusters of genes encoding secondary metabolites. This has led us to study the evolutionary history of the 2,4 diacetylphloroglucinol in P fluorescens and also to explore a specific mobile element – an ICE (integrative and conjugative element) – that is found in some species of P. fluorescens . P. fluorescens is of interest as an agricultural inoculant and we are actively studying the capacity of this bacterium to mobilize inorganic phosphate from the soil, a application that could facilitate lower input levels of P to crops, and lower pollution run-off. For more information on these project areas, please see the Biomerit website.