Research Profile

John O'Callaghan

Biography

Awarded a B.Sc. (Hons) in 1993 and a Ph.D in 1999, both from the Department of Microbiology, UCC. Commenced post-doctoral research in 1998 and remained at UCC until 2006 Research topics included interactions between Propionibacterium and Lactobacillus, heterologous expression and characterisation of fungal enzymes and the functional genomics of ochratoxin production by Aspergillus and Penicillium species. Moved to Moorepark Food Research Centre,  Fermoy, Co. Cork to take up a position as a research officer in 2006 working on the genomics of Lactobacillus helveticus.  Returned to UCC in 2009 as a senior research scientist in the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Research Centre (APC) investigating the transcriptional responses of bacterial and epithelial cells in intestinal epithelium models.  Returned to Teagasc Moorepark in June 2012 to work as a research officer in the Glycoscience research group mainly using bioinformatic techniques to analyse microarry and glycoarray datasets.  Appointed to current position of Technical Officer – Molecular Microbiology in the School of Microbiology UCC in October 2013.



Publications

Peer Reviewed Journals

 YearPublication
(2018)'Bovine glycomacropeptide promotes the growth of Bifidobacterium longum ssp. infantis and modulates its gene expression'
N. O'Riordan and J. O'Callaghan and L.F. Buttò and M. Kilcoyne and L. Joshi and R.M. Hickey (2018) 'Bovine glycomacropeptide promotes the growth of Bifidobacterium longum ssp. infantis and modulates its gene expression'. Journal of Dairy Science, 101 (8):6730-6741   [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Glycoside hydrolase family 13 a-glucosidases encoded by Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003; A comparative analysis of function, structure and phylogeny'
Emer D. Kelly and Francesca Bottacini and John O'Callaghan and Mary O'Connell Motherway and Kerry Joan O'Connell and Catherine Stanton and Douwe van Sinderen (2016) 'Glycoside hydrolase family 13 a-glucosidases encoded by Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003; A comparative analysis of function, structure and phylogeny'. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 224 :55-65   [DOI] [Details]
(2015)'The intestinal glycome and its modulation by diet and nutrition'
Kavanaugh, Devon and O’Callaghan, John and Kilcoyne, Michelle and Kane, Marian and Joshi, Lokesh and Hickey, Rita M. (2015) 'The intestinal glycome and its modulation by diet and nutrition'. Nutrition Reviews, 73 (6)   [DOI] [Details]
(2014)'Profiling temporal changes in bovine milk lactoferrin glycosylation using lectin microarrays'
Noelle O’Riordan and Jared Q. Gerlach and Michelle Kilcoyne and John O’Callaghan and Marian Kane and Rita M. Hickey and Lokesh Joshi (2014) 'Profiling temporal changes in bovine milk lactoferrin glycosylation using lectin microarrays'. Food chemistry, 165 :388-396   [DOI] [Details]
(2013)'Functional characterization of the polyketide synthase gene required for ochratoxin A biosynthesis in Penicillium verrucosum'
O'Callaghan, J,Coghlan, A,Abbas, A,Garcia-Estrada, C,Martin, JF,Dobson, ADW (2013) 'Functional characterization of the polyketide synthase gene required for ochratoxin A biosynthesis in Penicillium verrucosum'. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 161 :172-181 [DOI] [Details]
(2013)'Transcriptional response of HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells to human and bovine milk oligosaccharides'
JA Lane, J O'Callaghan, SD Carrington, RM Hickey (2013) 'Transcriptional response of HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells to human and bovine milk oligosaccharides'. British Journal of Nutrition, 110 (5):2127-2137 [DOI] [Details]
(2013)'Metabolism of Four alpha-Glycosidic Linkage-Containing Oligosaccharides by Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003'
O'Connell, KJ;Motherway, MO;O'Callaghan, J;Fitzgerald, GF;Ross, RP;Ventura, M;Stanton, C;van Sinderen, D (2013) 'Metabolism of Four alpha-Glycosidic Linkage-Containing Oligosaccharides by Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003'. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 79 :6280-6292 [DOI] [Details]
(2013)'Exposure of Bifidobacterium longum subsp infantis to Milk Oligosaccharides Increases Adhesion to Epithelial Cells and Induces a Substantial Transcriptional Response'
Kavanaugh, DW,O'Callaghan, J,Butto, LF,Slattery, H,Lane, J,Clyne, M,Kane, M,Joshi, L,Hickey, RM (2013) 'Exposure of Bifidobacterium longum subsp infantis to Milk Oligosaccharides Increases Adhesion to Epithelial Cells and Induces a Substantial Transcriptional Response'. Plos One, 8 [DOI] [Details]
(2012)'Influence of Adhesion and Bacteriocin Production by Lactobacillus salivarius on the Intestinal Epithelial Cell Transcriptional Response'
O'Callaghan, J;Butto, LF;MacSharry, J;Nally, K;O'Toole, PW (2012) 'Influence of Adhesion and Bacteriocin Production by Lactobacillus salivarius on the Intestinal Epithelial Cell Transcriptional Response'. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 78 :5196-5203 [DOI] [Details]
(2012)'Mechanism of protection of transepithelial barrier function by Lactobacillus salivarius: strain dependence and attenuation by bacteriocin production'
Miyauchi, E,O'Callaghan, J,Butto, LF,Hurley, G,Melgar, S,Tanabe, S,Shanahan, F,Nally, K,O'Toole, PW (2012) 'Mechanism of protection of transepithelial barrier function by Lactobacillus salivarius: strain dependence and attenuation by bacteriocin production'. American Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, 303 :1029-1041 [DOI] [Details]
(2010)'Invited review: Lactobacillus helveticus-A thermophilic dairy starter related to gut bacteria'
Slattery, L. and O'Callaghan, J. and Fitzgerald, G. F. and Beresford, T. and Ross, R. P.; (2010) 'Invited review: Lactobacillus helveticus-A thermophilic dairy starter related to gut bacteria'. Journal of dairy science, 93 (10):4435-4454 [DOI] [Details]
(2010)'Crucial Role for Insertion Sequence Elements in Lactobacillus helveticus Evolution as Revealed by Interstrain Genomic Comparison'
Kaleta, P;O'Callaghan, J;Fitzgerald, GF;Beresford, TP;Ross, RP (2010) 'Crucial Role for Insertion Sequence Elements in Lactobacillus helveticus Evolution as Revealed by Interstrain Genomic Comparison'. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 76 :212-220 [DOI] [Details]
(2009)'Exploitation of the diverse insertion sequence element content of dairy Lactobacillus helveticus starters as a rapid method to identify different strains'
Kaleta, P. and Callanan, M.J. and O'Callaghan, J. and Fitzgerald, G.F. and Beresford, T.P. and Ross, R.P.; (2009) 'Exploitation of the diverse insertion sequence element content of dairy Lactobacillus helveticus starters as a rapid method to identify different strains'. Journal of microbiological methods, 79 (1):32-36 [Details]
(2009)'Comparative genomics of lactic acid bacteria reveals a niche-specific gene set'
O'sullivan, O. and O'Callaghan, J. and Sangrador-Vegas, A. and McAuliffe, O. and Slattery, L. and Kaleta, P. and Callanan, M. and Fitzgerald, G.F. and Ross, R.P. and Beresford, T.; (2009) 'Comparative genomics of lactic acid bacteria reveals a niche-specific gene set'. BMC microbiology, 9 (1) [Full Text] [Details]
(2009)'Cloning and Characterization of Novel Methylsalicylic Acid Synthase Gene Involved In The Biosynthesis of Isoasperlactone and Asperlactone In Aspergillus Westerdijkiae'
Bacha, N, Dao, HP, Atoui, A, Mathieu, F, O'Callaghan, J, Puel, O, Liboz, T, Dobson, ADW, Lebrihi, A; (2009) 'Cloning and Characterization of Novel Methylsalicylic Acid Synthase Gene Involved In The Biosynthesis of Isoasperlactone and Asperlactone In Aspergillus Westerdijkiae'. Fungal Genetics and Biology, 46 (10):742-749 [DOI] [Details]
(2008)'Genome sequence of Lactobacillus helveticus, an organism distinguished by selective gene loss and insertion sequence element expansion'
Callanan, M. and Kaleta, P. and O'Callaghan, J. and O'Sullivan, O. and Jordan, K. and McAuliffe, O. and Sangrador-Vegas, A. and Slattery, L. and Fitzgerald, G.F. and Beresford, T. and others; (2008) 'Genome sequence of Lactobacillus helveticus, an organism distinguished by selective gene loss and insertion sequence element expansion'. Journal of bacteriology, 190 (2) [Details]
(2008)'Cloning, sequence analysis and heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris of a gene encoding a thermostable cellobiose dehydrogenase from Myriococcum thermophilum'
Zamocky, M;Schumann, C;Sygmund, C;O'Callaghan, J;Dobson, ADW;Ludwig, R;Haltrich, D;Peterbauer, CK (2008) 'Cloning, sequence analysis and heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris of a gene encoding a thermostable cellobiose dehydrogenase from Myriococcum thermophilum'. Protein Expression and Purification, 59 :258-265 [DOI] [Details]
(2006)'Molecular characterisation of ochratoxin A biosynthesis and producing fungi'
O'Callaghan, J. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2006) 'Molecular characterisation of ochratoxin A biosynthesis and producing fungi'. Advances In Applied Microbiology, 58 (*):227-243 [Details]
(2006)'Cloning and molecular characterization of Penicillium expansum genes upregulated under conditions permissive for patulin biosynthesis'
White, S,O'Callaghan, J,Dobson, ADW; (2006) 'Cloning and molecular characterization of Penicillium expansum genes upregulated under conditions permissive for patulin biosynthesis'. Fems Microbiology Letters, 255 :17-26 [DOI] [Details]
(2006)'Ochratoxin A biosynthetic genes in Aspergillus ochraceus are differentially regulated by pH and nutritional stimuli'
O'Callaghan, J,Stapleton, PC,Dobson, ADW; (2006) 'Ochratoxin A biosynthetic genes in Aspergillus ochraceus are differentially regulated by pH and nutritional stimuli'. Fungal Genetics and Biology, 43 :213-221 [DOI] [Details]
(2006)'Phylogenetic analysis of polyketide synthase genes from Aspergillus ochraceus'
O'Callaghan, J. and Dobson, A.D.W. (2006).; (2006) 'Phylogenetic analysis of polyketide synthase genes from Aspergillus ochraceus'. Mycotoxin Research, 22 (*):125-133 [Details]
(2006)'Cloning and molecular characterisation of Penicillium expansum genes upregulated under conditions permissive for patulin biosytnhesis'
White, S., O'Callaghan, J. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2006) 'Cloning and molecular characterisation of Penicillium expansum genes upregulated under conditions permissive for patulin biosytnhesis'. Fems Microbiology Letters, 255 (1):17-22 [Details]
(2004)'Molecular cloning of the cellobiose dehydrogenase gene from Trametes versicolor and expression in Pichia pastoris'
Stapleton, PC,O'Brien, MM,O'Callaghan, J,Dobson, ADW; (2004) 'Molecular cloning of the cellobiose dehydrogenase gene from Trametes versicolor and expression in Pichia pastoris'. Enzyme, 34 :55-63 [DOI] [Details]
(2003)'A polyketide synthase gene required for ochratoxin A biosynthesis in aspergillus ochraceus'
O'Callaghan, J., Caddick, M.X. and dobson, a.D.W.; (2003) 'A polyketide synthase gene required for ochratoxin A biosynthesis in aspergillus ochraceus'. Microbiology SGM, 148 :3485-3491 [Details]
(2002)'Optimization of the expression of a Trametes versicolor laccase gene in Pichia pastoris'
O'callaghan, J., O'Brien, M.M., McClean, K., and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2002) 'Optimization of the expression of a Trametes versicolor laccase gene in Pichia pastoris'. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology, 29 :55-59 [Details]
(2002)'Molecular cloning of a laccase isozyme gene from Pleurotus sajor-caju and expression in the heterologous Pichia pastoris host'
Soden, D.M., O'callaghan, J. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2002) 'Molecular cloning of a laccase isozyme gene from Pleurotus sajor-caju and expression in the heterologous Pichia pastoris host'. Microbiology SGM, 148 :4003-4014 [Details]
(2002)'PCR-based detection and quantification of mycotoxigenic fungi'
Edwards, SG,O'Callaghan, J,Dobson, ADW (2002) 'PCR-based detection and quantification of mycotoxigenic fungi'. Mycological Research, 106 :1005-1025 [DOI] [Details]
(2002)'Characterisation of the stimulants produced by Lactobacillus helveticus in milk for Propionibacterium freudenreichii'
Piveteau, P.G. and O'Callaghan, J. and Lyons, B. and Condon, S. and Cogan, T.M.; (2002) 'Characterisation of the stimulants produced by Lactobacillus helveticus in milk for Propionibacterium freudenreichii'. Le Lait, 82 (1):69-80 [Details]
(2000)'Growth of Lactococcus lactis strains at low water activity: correlation with the ability to accumulate glycine betaine'
O'Callaghan, J. and Condon, S.; (2000) 'Growth of Lactococcus lactis strains at low water activity: correlation with the ability to accumulate glycine betaine'. International journal of food microbiology, 55 (1-3):127-131 [Details]

Book Chapters

 YearPublication
(2013)'Lactobacillus: Host--Microbe Relationships'
O’Callaghan, John and O’Toole, Paul W (2013) 'Lactobacillus: Host--Microbe Relationships' In: Current Opinion in Microbiology Between Pathogenicity and Commensalism. Germany: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. [Details]
(2004)'Toxins in Cheese-Biogenic Amines and Mycotoxins'
O'Brien, N.M., O'Connor, T.P., O'Callaghan, J. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2004) 'Toxins in Cheese-Biogenic Amines and Mycotoxins' In: Cheese: Chemistry, Physics and Microbiology,3rd Edition: General Aspects - Volume 1. [Details]

Professional Activities

Employment

 EmployerPositionFrom / To
School of Microbiology, University College Cork Technical Officer - Molecular Microbiology01-OCT-13 /
Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork. Research Officer - Glycobiology01-JUN-12 / 30-SEP-13
Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre - University College Cork Senior Research Scientist01-JUN-09 / 31-MAY-12
Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork. Research Officer - Bioinformatics/Molecular Biology01-MAR-06 / 31-MAY-09
Department of Microbiology, University College Cork Postdoctoral Research Scientist01-DEC-98 / 28-FEB-06
Dept of Microbiology, University College Cork Research Assistant01-JUL-93 / 30-SEP-93

Conference Contributions

 YearPublication
(2008)9th Syposium on Lactic Acid Bacteria,
O'Callaghan, J., Ross, R.P., and Beresford, T.; (2008) A comparative genomics analysis of sugar metabolism in Lactobacillus helveticus and other Lactobacillus species: Reductive evolution driven by niche adaptation. [Oral Presentation], 9th Syposium on Lactic Acid Bacteria, Egmond an Zee, The Netherlands , 31-AUG-08 - 31-AUG-08. [Details]
(2005)2nd Symposium on natural product biosynthesis,
O'Callaghan, J and Dobson, ADW; (2005) Molecular Characterisation of ochratoxin A biosynthesis in Aspergillus ochraceus. [Invited Oral Presentation], 2nd Symposium on natural product biosynthesis, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK , 01-JUN-05 - 02-JUN-05. [Details]
(2004)EU Mycotoxins Cluster Dissemination meeting,
O'Callaghan, J. and Dobson, ADW; (2004) Molecular approaches to the detection of Ochratoxin A producing fungi. [Oral Presentation], EU Mycotoxins Cluster Dissemination meeting, Brussels, Belgium , 21-OCT-04 - 22-OCT-04. [Details]
(2004)7th European Conference on Fungal Genetics,
O'Callaghan, J. and Dobson, ADW; (2004) Molecular analysis of ochratoxin A biosynthesis in Aspergillus ochraceus. [Invited Oral Presentation], 7th European Conference on Fungal Genetics, Copenhagen, Denmark , 17-APR-04 - 20-APR-04. [Details]
(2004)7th European Conference on Fungal Genetics,
White, S., O'Callaghan, J. and Dobson, A.D.W. ; (2004) Cloning of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase genes involved in patulin biosynthesis in Penicillium expansum. [Poster Presentation], 7th European Conference on Fungal Genetics, Copenhagen, Denmark , 18-APR-04 - 22-APR-04. [Details]
(2003)33rd Conference on Food Science and Technology,
White, S.I., O'Callaghan, J. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2003) Use of subtractive hybridisation to isolate genes involved in the biosynthesis of the mycotoxin patulin in Penicillium expansum. [Poster Presentation], 33rd Conference on Food Science and Technology, University College Cork, Ireland , 04-SEP-03 - 05-SEP-03. [Details]
(2003)Gordon Research Conference on Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins,
O'Callaghan, J. and Dobson, ADW; (2003) Cloning and functional characterisation of a pks gene from Aspergillus ochraceus that is essential for the biosynthesis of ochratoxin A. [Poster Presentation], Gordon Research Conference on Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins, Colby, Maine, USA , 11-JUN-03 - 14-JUN-03. [Details]
(2003)33rd Annual Food Science and Technology Research Conference,
O'Callaghan, J., Caddick, M.X. and Dobson, A.D.W. ; (2003) Cloning of a polyketide synthase gene from Aspergillus ochraceus that is essential for the biosynthesis of ochratoxin A. [Poster Presentation], 33rd Annual Food Science and Technology Research Conference, University College Cork, Ireland , 04-SEP-03 - 05-SEP-03. [Details]
(2002)6th European Conference on Fungal Genetics,
White, S.I., O’Callaghan, J and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2002) A functional genomics approach to the molecular characterisation of mycotoxin biosynthetic genes. [Poster Presentation], 6th European Conference on Fungal Genetics, Pisa, Italy , 06-APR-02 - 09-APR-02. [Details]
(2001)Bioactive Fungal Metabolites - Impact and Exploitation (British Mycological Society Symposium),
O'Callaghan, J., Sweeney, M.J., Pamies, P. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2001) Molecular Detection of Mycotoxigenic Fungi. [Poster Presentation], Bioactive Fungal Metabolites - Impact and Exploitation (British Mycological Society Symposium), University of Wales, Swansea, UK , 03-APR-01 - 06-APR-01. [Details]
(2001)31st Annual Food Science and Technology Research Conference,
Sweeney, M.J., White, S.I., O’Callaghan, J. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2001) Development of molecular based techniques to monitor aflatoxin and ochratoxin production. 31st Annual Food Science and Technology Research Conference. [N/A], 31st Annual Food Science and Technology Research Conference, University College Cork , 06-SEP-01 - 07-SEP-01. [Details]
(2001)31st Food Science and Technology Conference,,
O'Callaghan, J. Sweeney, M and Dobson, ADW.; (2001) Development of molecular based techniques to monitor aflatoxin and ochratoxin production. [Oral Presentation], 31st Food Science and Technology Conference,, University College Cork , 13-SEP-01 - 14-SEP-01. [Details]
(1999)Symposium on Microbial stress and recovery in food,
O'Callaghan, J and Condon, S.; (1999) Growth of Lactococcus lactis strains at low water activity: correlation with the ability to accumulate glycine betaine. [Oral Presentation], Symposium on Microbial stress and recovery in food, Quimper, France , 15-JUN-99 - 18-JUN-99. [Details]
(1999)Society for General Microbiology, Irish Branch Meeting,
O'Callaghan, J. and Condon, S.; (1999) The influence of Magnesium ions on the survival of Lactococus lactis exposed to lethal stress. [Poster Presentation], Society for General Microbiology, Irish Branch Meeting, University College Cork , 10-MAR-99 - 12-MAR-99. [Details]
(1998)Dairying Behind the Dykes, NIZO 50th Anniversary Symposium,
O'Callaghan, J and Condon, S.; (1998) Growth inhibition by osmotic stress in Lactococcus lactis: the role of compatible solutes. [Oral Presentation], Dairying Behind the Dykes, NIZO 50th Anniversary Symposium, Arnhem, The Netherlands , 15-SEP-98 - 18-SEP-98. [Details]
(1996)5th Symposium on Lactic Acid Bacteria,
O'Callaghan, J and Condon, S.; (1996) Comparison of Sugar and NaCL as osmotic inhibitors of Lactococcus lactis NCDO712. [Poster Presentation], 5th Symposium on Lactic Acid Bacteria, Veldhoven, The Netherlands , 01-SEP-96 - 05-SEP-96. [Details]
(1995)132nd Ordinary Meeting of The Society For General Microbiology,
O'Callaghan, J., and Condon, S.; (1995) Inhibition of the growth of Lactococcus lactis by sodium chloride. [Poster Presentation], 132nd Ordinary Meeting of The Society For General Microbiology, The University of Aberdeen, Abrdeen, UK , 14-SEP-95 - 16-SEP-95. [Details]

Education

 YearInstitutionQualificationSubject
1993University College Cork B.Sc. (Honours)Microbiology
1999University College Cork Ph.D.Microbiology: Osmotolerance in Lactococcus

Journal Activities

 JournalRoleTo / From
International Dairy Journal Referee-

Contact details

Search profiles by name

Search profiles by topic

School of Microbiology

Scoil na Micribhitheolaíochta

Microbiology Office, Room FSB452, 4th Floor Food Science & Technology Building, University College Cork, Cork T12 Y337

Top