Dr Conor P O'Byrne

Dr Conor P O'Byrne

Director
Bacterial Stress Response Group

The research focus in my group is on the molecular mechanisms that food-borne bacterial pathogens use to sense and respond to harsh conditions in their environment. Pathogens encounter major physicochemical changes as they transition from food into the host, particularly in relation to pH, osmolarity, oxygen concentration, light and temperature.

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Current Lab Members

Prof Jorgen Johansson
Visiting Professor from University of Umea, summer 2016
 

 
Lorraine Murphy
MSc Biotechnology, summer 2016
 

 
Lisa Errecalt
Summer Internship 2016
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Amber Dorey
The molecular response of Listeria monocytogenes to visible light
Email Amber
 

 
 
  
 
CPOB lab 4th yrs 2015-2016
L-R: Joseph Gallagher, Kelvin Murphy, Michelle Cullen, Stephanie O'Hara 
 

 
 
 
 
Dr Tara Vollmerhausen
Investigating the feasibility of using UVA light to prevent Escherichia coli biofilm formation on medical devices
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Christy Agbavwe 
Identification of novel glycan binding determinants in the huma gut metagenome
Email Christy
 

 
 
 
 
Beth O'Donoghue
Investigation of the molecular basis for stress perception in Listeria monocytogenes
Email Beth
 

 
 
 
 
Yinka Somorin
Evolution of the stress response in soil-adapted isolates of Escherichia coli
Email Yinka
 

 
 
 
 
 
Kerrie NicAogain
Investigation into the basis for persistence of  Listeria monocytogenes in food processing environments and development of new eradication strategies
Email Kerrie
 

 
 
 
 
CPOBlab 4th years 2014-15
(L-R) Stephen Coyne, Grace Kilbane, David Foley (Env. Sci.), Edel Nolan, Aisling McGuane
 

Past Members

Alan Cunningham,
MSc Biotechnology Student, April- August 2015
 

 
 
 
 
Glaucia Noaves,
 Science without Borders summer student, 2015
 

 
 
 
Guillaume Bouchard,
 summer student 2015, visiting from University of Bourgogne
 

 
 
 
 
Conor Feehily
Investigation of the role of GABA metabolism in the stress tolerance and virulence of Listeria monocytogenes.
PhD student 2010-2014
 

 
 
 
 
Elke Peil
Erasmus visiting student, spring semester 2015
 

 
 
 
Denise Magill
BSc Marine Science, final year project student, 2014
 

 
 
 
Aiden Finnerty
MSc Biotechnology, summer 2013
 

 
 
  
 
Jessica Aherne-Kristensen
MSc Biotechnology, summer 2012

 
 
 
 
Amanda Nowak
Visiting student, Lehigh University, NY, Summer 2012 
 

  
 
 
 
Marta Olszak
Project: Investigating novel protective functions provided by sigmaB in the human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes.
Email Marta
PhD student 2008-2012
 

 
 
 
Dr Kimon-Andreas Karatzas 
SFI - SIRG Investiagtor 
Email Andreas
 

 
 
 
 
Emily Starr  
Project: Molecular mechanisms of osmoregulation in Listeria monocytogenes.  
E-mail Emily 
Pictures of last day in the lab celebrations.

 
 
 
Eoin Cosgrave 
Project: Regulation of SigmaB activity in Listeria monocytogenes
Email Eoin

 
 

James McGarrigle
 
Project: Investiagtion of the molecular basis for the inhibition of threonine deaminase by homocysteine in Escherichia coli. 
Email James
 



 


Sinead Heavin
Investigating molecular responses to weak acid stress in the human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes
Email Sinead
 

 
 
 
Dr Moira Madeo,
visting postdoctoral researcher, summer 2011
 

 
 
 
 
Niamh O'Riordan
MSc Biotechnology, April - August 2010
 

 
 
 
Brona O'Sullivan, Rebecca Ham & Laura Suur
UREKA Students Summer 2010
 
 

 
 
 
James Nolan & Kirsi Sepponen
UREKA students summer 2009
 
 

 
 
 
 
Areli del Carmen Moran Garcia
Project: Characterisation of protein-protein interactions involved in the regulation of sigma B activity in Listeria monocytogenes.
Email Areli: delcarmen08hotmail.com
 
 

 
 
 
Lionel Newton
4th yr Biotechnology student
 
 

 
 
 
Orla Brennan 
4th Year Biotechnology 2008
 

 
 
 
Donal Connally & Hima Bindu Kalari
MSc Biotechnology students, March-August 2008
 

 
 
 
 
Katarzyna Kupidura (Warsaw University) & Ciara Keating (NUIG)
UREKA Students Summer 2008
 

 
 
 
    
  
Florence Abram  
Project: Proteomic analaysis of stress-sensitive strains of Listeria monocytogenes. 
E-mail Florence
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

                Emer Carter

MSc Biotechnology April- August 2007

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Niamh McCormack (TCD, Ireland) 
Marit Orav (Tartu, Estonia) 
UREKA Students, Summer 2007

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
"Ola" Aleksandra Prill 
Leonardo da Vinci Trainee Dec - Feb '07

 
John Jordan 
4th Year Biotechnology 2007

 

  
 
Dr Nina Tuite 
PhD Student Sept 2002- June 2006 
Project: Investigating the basis for homocysteine toxicity in Escherichia coli. 
E-mail Nina
 

 
 
 
 
  UREKA Students '06 
Joanna Aleksandrowicz (Poznan) & Eilis Cunningham (Galway)
 

 
 
 
Carmel Jennings 
4th year Biotechnology 2006

 
 
 
Katherine Gleeson
Project: Characterisation of homocysteine resistant mutants of Escherichia coli
E-mail Katherine 
 
 

 
 
 
  Ashley ShurickUREKA student, summer '05 

 
 
 
Susan GalloglyUREKA student, summer '05

 
 
 
Lauren Doran
 4th Year BSc Biotechnology  
January 2005 - March 2005

 
 
 
Dr Katy Fraser 
Post-Doc Sept 2002- Oct 2004

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
Elaine McMahon  
MSc Biotech Student Summer '04



 

Marissa O'Keeffe 
4th Year BSc Biotechnology, January-March 2004

 
 
Catherine Qualter 
MSc Biotechnology, May - September 2003


  
Mustafa El Sharif 
Visiting student, August 2002 - February 2003
 

Former 4th Year Microbiology Students

CPOB Lab 4th yrs 2013-2014
 

 
 
 
CPOB Lab 4th yrs 2012-2013
L-R: Michael Maxwell, Katie Canavan, Eimear McDermott, Ashling Henderson, Hannah McCloskey, Ailbhe O'Flaherty
 

 
 
 
 
CPOB Lab 4th yrs 2011-2012
L-R: Catherine Giblin, Kevin Sheridan, Joanne Durkin, Esohe Igunma, Catherine Magrath, Aoife Harte, Stephen Gardiner
 
 

 
 
 
 
CPOB Lab 4th years 2010-2011
Aoife Murtagh, Laura Davey, Sinead McCarthy, Linda McDonagh, Chris Droney, Ruth Kelly
 

 
 
 
 
 
4th year BSc 2009-2010
L-R: Caolan Arkinson, Aileen O'Sullivan, David Reddington, David Cullen, Clare Dooley, Darragh Ginty
 

 
 
 
 
4th years 2008-2009
(L-R) Clodagh Hughes, Malgorzata Wronska, Lisa O'Reilly, Sarah Kelly
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                        4th Years 2007-2008
  
 (L-R) Conor Feehily, Michael Joyce, Patrick Quinlan, Macdara Bracken, Nicky O'Boyle.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 
CPOB lab 4th yrs 06-07
(L-R) Niamh Collery, Michelle Crowe, Joseph Louli, Maria O'hAodha, Alison O'Donoghue, Sinead O'Hagan.
 

 
 
 
CPOB lab 4th years 2005-2006
(L-R, Noelle Earley, Niall Commins, Brian Moylan, Katherine Fitzpatrick, Sinead Heavin, Peter Kinnevey)
 

 
 
 
 
CPOB Lab 4th Years 2004-2005 
(L-R: Michele O'Loughlin, Deborah Sherlock, Emma Hasson, Bridget Rose Corrigan)

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
CPOB Lab 4th Years 2003-2004 
(L-R: Brendan Sayers, Fiona Gill, Emily Rabitte, Emily Starr)

 
 
CPOB Lab with 4th Years 2002-2003 
(L-R: Conor O'Byrne, Paula Kelly, Maria Boyle, Barry Sheehan, Caroline Gavin, Nina Tuite, Niamh Ni Bhreathnach, Mustafa El Sharif, Katy Fraser, Eimear Howley)

4th year project students


 ‌4th yr 16-17
 
CPOB lab 4th yrs 2016-2017
L-R: Peter McHugh, Amy Duggan, Darren Hannon
 
 

 
4th yrs 15-16 
 
 
  
 
CPOB lab 4th yrs 2015-2016
L-R: Joseph Gallagher, Kelvin Murphy, Michelle Cullen, Stephanie O'Hara 
 

 
 
 
 
4thyrs_14-15_large
 
 
 
CPOBlab 4th years 2014-15
(L-R) Stephen Coyne, Grace Kilbane, David Foley (Env. Sci.), Edel Nolan, Aisling McGuane

 

 

 

4th yrs 13-14_large

 
CPOB Lab 4th yrs 2013-2014
 

 
 4th yrs 12-13
 
 
CPOB Lab 4th yrs 2012-2013
L-R: Michael Maxwell, Katie Canavan, Eimear McDermott, Ashling Henderson, Hannah McCloskey, Ailbhe O'Flaherty
 

 4th yrs 11-12
 
 
 
CPOB Lab 4th yrs 2011-2012
L-R: Catherine Giblin, Kevin Sheridan, Joanne Durkin, Esohe Igunma, Catherine Magrath, Aoife Harte, Stephen Gardiner
 
 

 
4th yrs 10-11 
 
 
CPOB Lab 4th years 2010-2011
Aoife Murtagh, Laura Davey, Sinead McCarthy, Linda McDonagh, Chris Droney, Ruth Kelly
 

 
 
4thyrs09-10_big 
 
 
4th year BSc 2009-2010
L-R: Caolan Arkinson, Aileen O'Sullivan, David Reddington, David Cullen, Clare Dooley, Darragh Ginty
 

 
 4thyrs08-09
 
 
4th years 2008-2009
(L-R) Clodagh Hughes, Malgorzata Wronska, Lisa O'Reilly, Sarah Kelly
 
 

 4th_yrs_2007-08


                        4th Years 2007-2008
  
 (L-R) Conor Feehily, Michael Joyce, Patrick Quinlan, Macdara Bracken, Nicky O'Boyle.

 


 

 4th_yrs_06_07

 
CPOB lab 4th yrs 06-07
(L-R) Niamh Collery, Michelle Crowe, Joseph Louli, Maria O'hAodha, Alison O'Donoghue, Sinead O'Hagan.
 

 
 
 
CPOB lab 4th years 2005-2006
(L-R, Noelle Earley, Niall Commins, Brian Moylan, Katherine Fitzpatrick, Sinead Heavin, Peter Kinnevey)
 

 
 
 
 
CPOB Lab 4th Years 2004-2005 
(L-R: Michele O'Loughlin, Deborah Sherlock, Emma Hasson, Bridget Rose Corrigan)

 


 

 

 

 
CPOB Lab 4th Years 2003-2004 
(L-R: Brendan Sayers, Fiona Gill, Emily Rabitte, Emily Starr)

 
 
CPOB Lab with 4th Years 2002-2003 
(L-R: Conor O'Byrne, Paula Kelly, Maria Boyle, Barry Sheehan, Caroline Gavin, Nina Tuite, Niamh Ni Bhreathnach, Mustafa El Sharif, Katy Fraser, Eimear Howley)