Dr. G. Moran
Gary Moran, Lecturer in Microbiology
Contact details: Tel: +353 (01) 612 7245, Email: gary.moran@dental.tcd.ie
Teaching:
- First and Second year Dental Science PBL tutor.
- Organiser of Microbiology Laboratory Practical classes to 2nd Year Dental Science students and 1st year Dental Nursing students.
- Co-ordinator of the Foundation scholarship exams in Dental Science.
Research Interests:
- Periodontal Microbiology
- Virulence in Candida species
- Biocompatibility of Ni containing dental alloys (in collaboration with the Material Science Unit, DDUH)
Periodontal Microbiology.
I am currently developing biofilm models to investigate the interactions of bacteria responsible for periodontal diseases. Biofilms of anaerobic bacteria such as Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis are responsible for destruction of the connective tissues supporting teeth and chronic infection may also contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. We are currently using tissue culture models to study the interaction of biofilms with human cells to identify factors involved in pathogenesis and to develop novel methods of biofilm removal.
Virulence in Candida species.
This reseach project focuses on the comparative analysis of the fungal pathogens Candida albicans and its close relative C. dubliniensis. C. dubliniensis is less virulent than C. albicans and this is largely due to the inability of C. dubliniensis to produce hyphae in nutrient rich conditions. We have recently shown that the transcription factor UME6 is repressed by nitrogen rich conditions in C. dubliniensis and this accounts for the inability of this species to filament in many laboratory media. We are currently investigating the basis of nitrogen sensing in both species. We are also investigating the role of a novel gene family in C. albicans, the telomeric TLO gene family. Only two orthologous genes are present in C. dubliniensis, whereas C. albicans posseses up to 14 members. Deletion of the C. dubliniensis orthologues has revealed roles in stress resposnes and filamentation.
Biocompatibility of Ni containing dental alloys.
In collaboration with the Material Science Unit at the Dublin Dental School and Hospital, we are investigating the inflammatory potential of Ni containing dental alloys using a novel 3D model of the oral mucosa.
Representative recent publications:
1. Cooke N, Smith S, Moran G, Rogers T, Cooke FJ, Fookes M, Ivens A, Wain J, Walsh F. (2010). Comparison of dna microarrays for detection of plasmid mediated antimicrobial Resistance genes and virulence factors in clinical enterobacteriaceae and non- Enterobacteriaceae. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. 35:593-598.
2. Fleischhacker M, Pasligh J, Moran G, Ruhnke M. (2010). Longitudinal genotyping of Candida dubliniensis isolates reveals strain maintenance, microevolution and the emergence of itraconazole resistance. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 48:1643-1650.
3. Spiering MJ, Moran GP, Chauvel M, MacCallum DM, Higgins J, Hokamp K, Yeomans T, D’Enfert C, Coleman DC, Sullivan DJ. (2010). Comparative Transcript Profiling of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis identifies SFL2, a C. albicans gene required for virulence in a reconstituted epithelial infection model. Eukaryotic Cell. 9:251-265.
4. Jackson AP, Gamble JA, Yeomans T, Moran GP, Saunders D, Harris D, Aslett M, Barrell JF, Butler G, Citiulo F, Coleman DC, de Groot PW, Goodwin TJ, Quail MA, McQuillan J, Munro CA, Pain A, Poulter RT, Rajandream MA, Renauld H, Spiering MJ, Tivey A, Gow NA, Barrell B, Sullivan DJ, Berriman M. (2009). Comparative genomics of the fungal pathogens Candida dubliniensis and Candida albicans. Genome Research. 19:2231-2244.
5. Enjalbert B, Moran GP, Vaughan C, Yeomans T, MacCallum DM, Quinn J, Coleman DC, Brown AJ, Sullivan DJ. (2009). Genome-wide gene expression profiling and a forward genetic screen show that differential expression of the sodium ion transporter Ena21 contributes to the differential tolerance of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis to osmotic stress.Molecular Microbiology. 72:216-218.
6. Moran GP, MacCallum DM, Spiering MJ, Coleman DC, Sullivan DJ. (2007). Differential regulation of the transcriptional repressor NRG1 accounts for altered host cell interactions in Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis. Molecular Microbiology. 66:915-929.