Biography
I run the Oral Microbiome research group in the School of Dental Science. My research focuses on the pathogenicity of oral microorganisms, specifically the fungal pathogen Candida albicans and the oral bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum. Our research involves a combination of molecular genetics, genomics and transcriptomics. We also carry out 16S profiling of the oral microbiome to better understand oral disease. Our research is carried out in the Microbiology laboratory at the Dublin Dental University Hospital, which is on the campus of Trinity College Dublin.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
O'Connor-Moneley J, Fletcher J, Bean C, Parker J, Kelly SL, Moran GP, Sullivan DJ., Deletion of the Candida albicans TLO gene family results in alterations in membrane sterol composition and fluconazole tolerance., PloS one, 19, (8), 2024, pe0308665
Crowley C, Selvaraj A, Hariharan A, Healy CM, Moran GP., Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. polymorphum recovered from malignant and potentially malignant oral disease exhibit heterogeneity in adhesion phenotypes and adhesin gene copy number, shaped by inter-subspecies horizontal gene transfer and recombination-derived mosaicism., Microbial genomics, 10, (3), 2024
Selvaraj A, McManus G, Healy CM, Moran GP, Fusobacterium nucleatum induces invasive growth and angiogenic responses in malignant oral keratinocytes that are cell line- and bacterial strain-specific., Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 2024
Fletcher J, O'Connor-Moneley J, Frawley D, Flanagan PR, Alaalm L, Menendez-Manjon P, Estevez SV, Hendricks S, Woodruff AL, Buscaino A, Anderson MZ, Sullivan DJ, Moran GP., Deletion of the Candida albicans TLO gene family using CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis allows characterisation of functional differences in " - ß- and "- TLO gene function., PLoS genetics, 19, (12), 2023, pe1011082
Galvin, Sheila, Anishchuk, Sviatlana, Healy, Claire M., Moran, Gary P., Smoking, tooth loss and oral hygiene practices have significant and site-specific impacts on the microbiome of oral mucosal surfaces: a cross-sectional study, Journal of Oral Microbiology, 15, (1), 2023, p2263971
Galvin S, Moran GP, Healy CM., Influence of site and smoking on malignant transformation in the oral cavity: Is the microbiome the missing link?, Front Oral Health, 4, 2023, p1166037
O'Connor M, Harrison G, Lenahan D, Moran GP., A dentifrice containing salivary enzymes and xylitol exhibits superior antimicrobial activity in vitro against adherent Streptococcus mutans compared to a chlorhexidine dentifrice., Letters in applied microbiology, 76, (2), 2023, povad026
Moran GP, Zgaga L, Daly B, Harding M, Montgomery T., Does fluoride exposure impact on the human microbiome?, Toxicology letters, 2023, pS0378-4274(23)00098-X
O'Connor-Moneley J, Alaalm L, Moran GP, Sullivan DJ., The role of the Mediator complex in fungal pathogenesis and response to antifungal agents., Essays in biochemistry, 2023, pEBC20220238
Winning L, Moran G, McClory M, El Karim I, Lundy FT, Patterson CC, Linden D, Cullen KM, Kee F, Linden GJ., Subgingival microbial diversity and respiratory decline: A cross-sectional study., Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 50, (7), 2023, p921 - 931
Elmaghrawy K, Fleming P, Fitzgerald K, Cooper S, Dominik A, Hussey S, Moran GP., The Oral Microbiome in Treatment-Naïve Paediatric IBD Patients Exhibits Dysbiosis Related to Disease Severity that Resolves Following Therapy., Journal of Crohn's & colitis, 17, (4), 2023, p553-564
Qi W, Acosta-Zaldivar M, Flanagan PR, Liu NN, Jani N, Fierro JF, Andrés MT, Moran GP, Köhler JR., Stress- and metabolic responses of Candida albicans require Tor1 kinase N-terminal HEAT repeats., PLoS pathogens, 18, (6), 2022, pe1010089
Elmaghrawy K, Hussey S, Moran GP., The Oral Microbiome in Pediatric IBD: A Source of Pathobionts or Biomarkers?, Frontiers in pediatrics, 8, 2020, p620254
Amer A., Whelan A., Al-Hebshi NN, Healy CM, Moran GP, Acetaldehyde production by Rothia mucilaginosa isolates from patients with oral leukoplakia, Journal of Oral Microbiology, 12, (1), 2020
Moran, Gary P., Al-Hebshi, Nezar, Editorial: The Human Microbiome and Cancer, Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, 2020, p1514-
Hernández-Cervantes A, Znaidi S, van Wijlick L, Denega I, Basso V, Ropars J, Sertour N, Sullivan D, Moran G, Basmaciyan L, Bon F, Dalle F, Bougnoux ME, Boekhout T, Yang Y, Li Z, Bachellier-Bassi S, d'Enfert C., A conserved regulator controls asexual sporulation in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans., Nature communications, 11, (1), 2020, p6224
Moran GP, Anderson MZ, Myers LC, Sullivan DJ., Role of Mediator in virulence and antifungal drug resistance in pathogenic fungi., Current genetics, 65, 2019, p621 - 630
Healy CM, Moran GP, The microbiome and oral cancer: More questions than answers, Oral Oncology, 89, 2019, p30 - 33
Alotaibi M, Moran G, Grufferty B, Renvert S, Polyzois I , The effect of a decontamination protocol on contaminated titanium dental implant surfaces with different surface topography in edentulous patients, Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, 77, (1), 2019, p66 - 75
Westman J, Moran G, Mogavero S, Hube B, Grinstein S., Candida albicans Hyphal Expansion Causes Phagosomal Membrane Damage and Luminal Alkalinization., mBio, 9, (5), 2018
Peter R. Flanagan, Jessica Fletcher, Hannah Boyle, Razvan Sulea, Gary P. Moran, Derek J. Sullivan, Expansion of the TLO gene family enhances the virulence of Candida species, PLoS One, 13, (7), 2018
Connolly, E., Millhouse, E., Doyle, R., Culshaw, S., Ramage, G., Moran, G.P., The Porphyromonas gingivalis hemagglutinins HagB and HagC are major mediators of adhesion and biofilm formation, Molecular Oral Microbiology, 32, (1), 2017, p35 - 47
Abdrazak Amer, Sheila Galvin, Claire Healy & Gary P. Moran, The microbiome of oral leukoplakia shows enrichment in Fusobacteria and Rothia species, Journal of Oral Microbiology, 12th European Oral Microbiology Workshop, Stockholm, Sweden, May 25th-28th 2017, edited by Georgios Belibasakis , 9, (Supplement 1), Taylor and Francis, 2017, 1325253
Liu NN, Flanagan PR, Zeng J, Jani NM, Cardenas ME, Moran GP, Köhler JR., Phosphate is the third nutrient monitored by TOR in Candida albicans and provides a target for fungal-specific indirect TOR inhibition., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114, (24), 2017, p6346-6351
Amer A, Galvin S, Healy CM, Moran GP, The Microbiome of Potentially Malignant Oral Leukoplakia Exhibits Enrichment for Fusobacterium, Leptotrichia, Campylobacter, and Rothia Species, Frontiers in Microbiology, 8, 2017, p2391
Fungal infections of humans in, editor(s)Kavanagh, K. , Fungi: Biology and applications, third edition, Oxford, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2017, pp251 - 274, [Derek J. Sullivan, Gary P. Moran and David C. Coleman]
Elmaghrawy, K., Moran G.P., The oral mucosal microbiome in children with Crohn's disease exhibits reduced biodiversity compared to healthy children, revealed by 16s profiling, Journal of Oral Microbiology, 12th European Oral Microbioloy Workshop, Stokholm, Sweden, 25th-28th May 2017, edited by Georgios Belibasakis , 9, (Supplement 1), Taylor and Francis, 2017, pp1325254
Flanagan PR, Liu NN, Fitzpatrick DJ, Hokamp K, Köhler JR, Moran GP., The Candida albicans TOR-Activating GTPases Gtr1 and Rhb1 Coregulate Starvation Responses and Biofilm Formation., mSphere, 2, (6), 2017
Duncan HF, Smith AJ, Fleming GJP, Partridge NC, Shimizu E, Moran GP, Cooper PR, The Histone-Deacetylase-Inhibitor Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid Promotes Dental Pulp Repair Mechanisms Through Modulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 Activity., Journal of Cellular Physiology, 231, (4), 2016, p798 - 816
Liu Z., Moran G., Sullivan D., MacCallum D., Myers L., Myers L., Amplification of TLO Mediator Subunit Genes Facilitate Filamentous Growth in Candida Spp., PLoS Genetics, 12, (10), 2016
Joanne Mawhinney, Eimear Connolly, Noel Claffey, Gary Moran, Ioannis Polyzois, An in vivo comparison of bacterial microleakage in two dental implant systems: identification of a pathogenic reservoir in dental implants, Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, 73, (3), 2015, p188 - 194
Derek J. Sullivan, Judith Berman, Lawrence C. Myers , Gary P. Moran, Telomeric ORFS in Candida albicans : Does Mediator Tail Wag the Yeast?, PLoS Pathogens, 11, (2), 2015, pe1004614-
Caplice, N & Moran G, Candida albicans exhibits enhanced alkaline and temperature induction of Efg1-regulated transcripts relative to Candida dubliniensis, Genomics Data, 6, 2015, p130 - 135
Mawhinney J, Connolly E, Claffey N, Moran G, Polyzois I , An in vivo comparison of internal bacterial colonization in two dental implant systems: Identification of a pathogenic reservoir, Acta Odontologica Scandinavica , Apr;73, (3), 2015, p188 - 194
Duncan HF, Smith AJ, Fleming GJP , Moran GP, Cooper PR., Transcriptional profiling of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) regulated genes in mineralizing dental pulp cells at early and late time points , Genomic Data, 5, 2015, p391 - 393
JORDAN RP, WILLIAMS DW, MORAN GP, COLEMAN DC, SULLIVAN DJ, COMPARATIVE ADHERENCE OF CANDIDA ALBICANS AND CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS TO HUMAN BUCCAL EPITHELIAL CELLS AND EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX PROTEINS, MEDICAL MYCOLOGY, 52, (3), 2014, p254 - 263
Miajlovic H, Cooke NM, Moran GP, Rogers TR, Smith SG., Response of Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli to Human Serum Reveals a Protective Role for Rcs-Regulated Exopolysaccharide Colanic Acid., Infect Immun, 2014, p298 - 205
Derek J. Sullivan and Gary P. Moran, Human Pathogenic Fungi: Molecular biology and pathogenic mechanisms, Norfolk, UK, Caister Academic Press, 2014, 1-339-
John Haran, Hannah Boyle, Karsten Hokamp, Tim Yeomans, Zhongle Liu, Michael Church, Alastair B Fleming, Mathew Z Anderson, Judith Berman, Lawrence C Myers, Derek J Sullivan, Gary P Moran, Telomeric ORFs (TLOs) in Candida spp. encode Mediator subunits that regulate distinct virulence traits, PLoS Genetics, 10, (10), 2014, pe1004658-
McGinley EL, Moran GP, Fleming GJP, Biocompatibility effects of indirect exposure of base-metal dental casting alloys to a human-derived three-dimensional oral mucosal model, Journal of Dentistry, 41, 2013, p1091 - 1100
McGinley E, Moran GP, Fleming GJP, Biocompatibility effects of indirect exposure of base-metal dental casting alloys to a human-derived three-dimensional oral mucosal model, Journal of Dentistry, 41, (11), 2013, p1091 - 1100
E.L. McGinley, A.H. Dowling, G.P. Moran, G.J.P. Fleming, Influence of S. mutans on Base-metal Dental Casting Alloy Toxicity, Journal of Dental Research, 92, (1), 2013, p92 - 97
Schulz B, Knobloch M, Moran G, Weber K, Ruhnke M, Influence of doxorubicin on fluconazole susceptibility and efflux pump gene expression of Candida dubliniensis, Medical Mycology, 50, (4), 2012, p421 - 426
Moran, G.P., Coleman, D.C. and Sullivan, D.J., Candida albicans versus Candida dubliniensis: Why is C. albicans more pathogenic?, International Journal of Microbiology, 2012, 2012, pArticle ID 205921, 7 pages,
MORAN, GP, COLEMAN DC, SULLIVAN DJ, CANDIDA ALBICANS VERSUS CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS: WHY IS C. ALBICANS MORE PATHOGENIC?, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, 2012, 2012, p17: e205921
Higgins J, Pinjon E, Oltean HN, White TC, Kelly SL, Martel CM, Sullivan DJ, Coleman DC and Moran GP, Triclosan antagonises fluconazole activity against Candida albicans, Journal of Dental Research, 91, (1), 2012, p65 - 70
McGinley, E.L., Moran, G.P., Fleming, G.J.P., Base-metal dental casting alloy biocompatibility assessment using a human-derived three-dimensional oral mucosal model, Acta Biomaterialia, 8, (1), 2012, p432-438
McGinley, E.L., Moran, G.P., Fleming, G.J.P., Base-metal dental casting alloy biocompatibility assessment using a human-derived 3D oral mucosal model, Acta Biomaterialia, 8, (1), 2012, p432 - 438
Gary P. Moran, Transcript profiling reveals rewiring of iron assimilation gene expression in Candida albicans and C. dubliniensis, FEMS Yeast Research, 12, 2012, p918 - 923
Agwu E, Ihongbe JC, McManus BA, Moran GP, Coleman DC, Sullivan DJ, Distribution of yeast species associated with oral lesions in HIV-infected patients in Southwest Uganda, Medical Mycology, 50, (3), 2012, p276 - 280
An Introduction to the Medically important Candida species in, editor(s)RA Calderone and CJ Clancy , Candida and Candidiasis 2nd edition, Washington DC, ASM Press, 2011, pp11 - 25, [Moran GP, Coleman DC and Sullivan DJ]
R. Martin, G. P. Moran, I. D. Jacobsen, A. Heyken, J. Domey, D. J. Sullivan, O. Kurzai, B. Hube, The Candida albicans-Specific Gene EED1 Encodes a Key Regulator of Hyphal Extension, PLoS One, 6, (4), 2011, pe18394-
McManus BA, McGovern E, Moran GP, Healy CM, Nunn J, Fleming P, Costigan C, Sullivan DJ, Coleman DC, Microbioloigcal screening of Irish autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) patients shows persistence of Candida albicans strains, gradual reduction in susceptibility to azoles and incidences of clinical signs of oral candidiasis without culture evidence, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 49, (5), 2011, p1879 - 1889
MORAN GP and SULLIVAN DJ, DIFFERENTIAL VIRULENCE OF CANDIDA ALBICANS AND CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS: A ROLE FOR TOR KINASE?, VIRULENCE, 2, (1), 2011, p77 - 81
MORAN, G.P., COLEMAN, D.C. and SULLIVAN, D.J., COMPARATIVE GENOMICS AND THE EVOLUTION OF PATHOGENICITY IN HUMAN PATHOGENIC FUNGI , EUKARYOTIC CELL, 10, (1), 2011, p34 - 42
Louise McGinley E, Coleman DC, Moran GP, Fleming GJ, Effects of surface finishing conditions on the biocompatibility of a nickel-chromium dental casting alloy., Dental materials : official publication of the Academy of Dental Materials, 27, (7), 2011, p637-50
McGinley EL, Fleming GJP, Moran GP, Development of a discriminatory biocompatibility testing model for non-precious dental casting alloys, Dental Materials, 27, (12), 2011, p1295 - 1306
MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CANDIDA SPECIES in, editor(s)ASHBEE HR AND BIGNELL EM , Pathogenic Yeasts, BERLIN HEIDELBERG, SPRINGER VERLAG, 2010, pp19 - 39, [MORAN GP, MCMANUS, BA, COLEMAN DC, AND SULLIVAN DJ]
Fleischhacker, M., Pasligh, J., Moran, G., Ruhnke, M., Longitudinal Genotyping of Candida dubliniensis Isolates Reveals Strain Maintenance, Microevolution, and the Emergence of Itraconazole Resistance, Journal of clinical microbiology, 48, (5), 2010, p1643-1650
O'CONNOR L, CAPLICE N, COLEMAN DC, SULLIVAN DJ, MORAN GP, DIFFERENTIAL FILAMENTATION OF CANDIDA ALBICANS AND C. DUBLINIENSIS IS GOVERNED BY NUTRIENT REGULATION OF UME6 EXPRESSION, EUKARYOTIC CELL, 9, 2010, p1383 - 1397
O'Connor, L., Caplice, N., Coleman, D. C., Sullivan, D.J. and Moran, G.P., Differential filamentation of Candida albicans and C. dubliniensis is governed by nutrient regulation of UME6 expression, Eukaryotic Cell, 9, 2010, p1383 - 1397
MARTIN J. SPIERING, GARY P. MORAN, MURIELLE CHAUVEL, DONNA M. MacCALLUM , JUDY HIGGINS, KARSTEN HOKAMP, TIM YEOMANS, CHRISTOPHE D'ENFERT , DAVID C. COLEMAN, AND DEREK J. SULLIVAN, 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, (2), 2010, p251 - 265
COOKE N, SMITH S, MORAN G, ROGERS T, COOKE FJ, FOOKES M, IVENS A, WAIN J, WALSH F, 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, (6), 2010, p593 - 598
Coleman DC, Moran GP, McManus BA, Sullivan DJ., MECHANISMS OF ANTIFUNGAL DRUG RESISTANCE IN CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS, FUTURE MICROBIOLOGY, 5, (6), 2010, p935 - 949
McMANUS BA, MORAN GP, HIGGINS JA, SULLIVAN DJ, AND COLEMAN, DC , A Ser29Leu SUBSTITUTION IN THE CYTOSINE DEAMINASE Fca1p IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CLADE-SPECIFIC 5-FLUCYTOSINE RESISTANCE IN Candida dubliniensis, ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY, 53, 2009, p4678 - 4685
CITIULO F, MORAN GP, COLEMAN DC, SULLIVAN DJ., PURIFICATION AND GERMINATION OF CANDIDA ALBICANS AND CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS CHLAMYDOSPORES CULTURED IN LIQUID MEDIUM, FEMS YEAST RESEARCH, 9, (7), 2009, p1051 - 1060
BOREKA-MELKUSOVA S., MORAN G.P., SULLIVAN D.J., KUCHARIKOVA S., CHORVAT Jr D., BUDJAKOVA H. , THE EXPRESSION OF GENES INVOLVED IN THE ERGOSTEROL PATHWAY IN CANDIDA ALBICANS AND CANDID DUBLINIENSIS BIOFILMS EXPOSED TO FLUCONAZOLE, MYCOSES, 52, 2009, p118 - 128
ENJALBERT B, MORAN GP, VAUGHAN C, YEOMANS T, MACCALLUM DM, QUINN J, COLEMAN DC, BROWN AJ, SULLIVAN DJ, 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, 2009, p216 - 228
ANDREW P. JACKSON, JOHN A. GAMBLE, TIM YEOMANS, GARY P. MORAN, DAVID SAUNDERS, DAVID HARRIS, MARTIN ASLETT, JAMIE F. BARRELL, GERALDINE BUTLER, FRANCESCO CITIULO, DAVID C. COLEMAN, PIET W.J. DE GROOT, TIM J. GOODWIN, MICHAEL A. QUAIL, JACQUELINE MCQUILLAN, CAROL A. MUNRO, ARNAB PAIN, RUSSELL T. POULTER, MARIE-ADE`LE RAJANDREAM, HUBERT RENAULD, MARTIN J. SPIERING, ADRIAN TIVEY, NEIL A.R. GOW, BARCLAY BARRELL, DEREK J. SULLIVAN, AND MATTHEW BERRIMAN., COMPARATIVE GENOMICS OF THE FUNGAL PATHOGENS CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS AND CANDIDA ALBICANS, GENOME RESEARCH, 19, 2009, p2231 - 2244
Borecká-Melkusová, S., Moran, G.P., Sullivan, D.J., Kucharíková, S., Chorvát Jr., D., Bujdáková, H., The expression of genes involved in the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway in Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis biofilms exposed to fluconazole, Mycoses, 52, (2), 2009, p118-128
McMANUS BA, SULLIVAN DJ, MORAN GP, D'ENFERT C, BOUGNOUX M-E, NUNN MA, AND COLEMAN DC, AVIAN-ASSOCIATED AND HUMAN ISOLATES OF Candida dubliniensis ARE GENETICALLY DISTINCT, EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 15, (9), 2009, p1467-70
McMANUS BA, COLEMAN DC, MORAN G, PINJON E, DIOGO D, BOUGNOUX M-E, BORECKÁ-MELKUSOVA S, BUJDÁKOVA H, MURPHY P, d'ENFERT C, SULLIVAN DJ. SULLIVAN, MULTILOCUS SEQUENCE TYPING REVEALS THAT THE POPULATION STRUCTURE OF Candida dubliniensis IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS DIVERGENT THAN THAT OF Candida albicans, JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY, 46, (2), 2008, p652 - 664
MELO NR, MORAN GP, WARRILOW AG, DUDLEY E, SMITH SN, SULLIVAN DJ, LAMB DC, KELLY DE, COLEMAN DC, KELLY SL., CYP56 (Dit2p) in CANDIDA ALBICANS: CHARACTERISATION AND INVESTIGATION OF ITS ROLE IN GROWTH AND ANTIFUNGAL DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY, ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY, 52, 2008, p3718 - 3724
Sascha Thewes, Gary P. Moran, Beatrice B. Magee, Martin Schaller, Derek J. Sullivan, and Bernhard Hube, Phenotypic screening, transcriptional profiling, and comparative genomic analysis of an invasive and non-invasive strain of Candida albicans, BMC Microbiology, 8, 2008, p187 - 203
THEWES S, MORAN GP, MAGEE BB, SCHALLER M, SULLIVAN DJ, HUBE B., PHENOTYPIC SCREENING, TRANSCRIPTIONAL PROFILING, AND COMPARATIVE GENOMIC ANALYSIS OF AN INVASIVE AND NON-INVASIVE STRAIN OF CANDIDA ALBICANS, BMC MICROBIOLOGY, 8, 2008
MORAN GP, MACCALLUM DM, SPIERING MJ, COLEMAN DC, SULLIVAN DJ., DIFFERENTIAL REGULATION OF THE TRANSCRIPTIONAL REPRESSOR NRG1 ACCOUNTS FOR ALTERED HOST CELL INTERACTIONS IN CANDIDA ALBICANS AND CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS, MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, 66, (4), 2007, p915 - 929
STOKES C., MORAN G.P., SPIERING M.J., COLE G.T., COLEMAN D.C. AND SULLIVAN D.J., LOWER FILAMENTATION RATES OF CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS CONTRIBUTE TO ITS LOWER VIRULENCE IN COMPARISON WITH CANDIDA ALBICANS, FUNGAL GENETICS AND BIOLOGY, 44, (9), 2007, p920 - 931
Moran, G.P., Jabra-Rizk, M.A., 8th ASM Conference on Candida and Candidiasis: Molecular tools provide insights into host-pathogen interactions, Mycopathologia, 162, (1), 2006, p17-24
ANALYSIS OF DRUG RESISTANCE IN PATHOGENIC FUNGI in, editor(s)KEVIN KAVANAGH , ADVANCED METHODS IN MEDICAL MYCOLOGY, UK, JOHN WILEY & SONS, 2006, pp93 - 114, [GARY P. MORAN, EMMANUELLE PINJON, DAVID C. COLEMAN AND DEREK J. SULLIVAN]
Analysis of Drug Resistance in Pathogenic Fungi in, editor(s)K. Kavanagh , Medical Mycology: Cellular and Molecular Techniques, Chichester, John Wiley and Sons Ltd., 2006, pp93 - 114, [Gary P. Moran, Emmanuelle Pinjon, David C. Coleman and Derek J. Sullivan]
SULLIVAN DJ, MORAN GP, COLEMAN DC., CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS: 10 YEARS ON, FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS, 250, 2005, p9 - 17
PINJON E, JACKSON CJ, KELLY SL, SANGLARD D, MORAN G, COLEMAN DC, SULLIVAN DJ., REDUCED AZOLE SUSCEPTIBILITY IN GENOTYPE 3 CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS ISOLATES ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED CDCDR1 AND CDCDR2 EXPRESSION., ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY, 49, (4), 2005, p1312 - 1318
Pinjon E. ,Jackson C. J. ,Kelly S. L., Sanglard D., Moran G., Coleman D. C., Sullivan D. J., Reduced Azole Susceptibiliy in Genotype 3 Candida dubliniensis Isolates Associated with Increased CdCDR1 and CdCDR2 Expression, Antibicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 49, (4), 2005, p1312 - 1318
PINJON E, MORAN GP, COLEMAN DC, SULLIVAN DJ, AZOLE SUSCEPTIBILITY AND RESISTANCE IN CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS, BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS, 33, (5), 2005, p1210 - 1214
FUNGAL DISEASES OF HUMANS in, editor(s)KAVANAGH, K , FUNGI: BIOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS, CHICHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM, JOHN WILEY AND SONS LTD., 2005, pp171 - 190, [SULLIVAN, D, MORAN, G. COLEMAN, D]
MORAN G., STOKES C., THEWES S., HUBE B., COLEMAN C. AND SULLIVAN D., COMPARATIVE GENOMICS USING CANDIDA ALBICANS DNA MICROARRAYS REVEALS ABSENCE AND DIVERGENCE OF VIRULENCE ASSOCIATED GENES IN CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS , MICROBIOLOGY, 150, (10), 2004, p3363 - 3382
SULLIVAN DJ, MORAN GP, PINJON E, AL-MOSAID A, STOKES C, VAUGHAN C, COLEMAN DC., COMPARISON OF THE EPIDEMIOLOGY, DRUG RESISTANCE MECHANISMS, AND VIRULENCE OF CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS AND CANDIDA ALBICANS, FEMS YEAST RESEARCH, 4, (4-5), 2004, p369 - 376
PINJON E, MORAN GP, JACKSON CJ, KELLY SL, SANGLARD D, COLEMAN DC, SULLIVAN DJ., MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF ITRACONAZOLE RESISTANCE IN CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS., ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY, 47, (8), 2003, p2424 - 2437
MORAN, G, THE CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS CDCDR1 GENE IS NOT ESSENTIAL FOR FLUCONAZOLE RESISTANCE, ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY, 46, 2002, p2829 - 2841
THE EMERGENCE OF NON- CANDIDA ALBICANS CANDIDA SPECIES AS PATHOGENS in, editor(s)CALDERONE, R. , CANDIDIA AND CANDIDIASIS, WASHINGTON, DC., AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY, 2002, pp37 - 53, [MORAN, GP, SULLIVAN, DJ, COLEMAN, DC]
WIRSCHING, S, MORAN, GP, SULLIVAN, DJ, COLEMAN, DC, MORSCHHAUSER, J, MDR1-MEDIATED DRUG RESISTANCE IN CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS, ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY, 45, 2001, p3416 - 3421
STAIB, P, ISOGENIC STRAIN CONSTRUCTION AND GENE TARGETING IN CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS, JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY, 183, 2001, p2859 - 2865
Sullivan, D. J., Moran, G., Donnelly, S., Gee, S., Pinjon, E., McCartan, B., Shanley, D. B. and Coleman, D. C., Candida dubliniensis: An update, Revista Iberoamericana de Micología, 16, 1999, p72-76
MORAN, GP, IDENTIFICATION AND EXPRESSION OF MULTIDRUG TRANSPORTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR FLUCONAZOLE RESISTANCE IN CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS, ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY, 42, 1998, p1819 - 1830
COLEMAN D, SULLIVAN D, HARRINGTON B, HAYNES K, HENMAN M, SHANLEY D, BENNETT D, MORAN G, MCCREARY C, O'NEILL L., MOLECULAR AND PHENOTYPIC ANALYSIS OF CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS: A RECENTLY IDENTIFIED SPECIES LINKED WITH ORAL CANDIDOSIS IN HIV-INFECTED AND AIDS PATIENTS., ORAL DISEASES, 3, (SUPPLEMENT 1), 1997, pS96 - S101
MORAN, GP, ANTIFUNGAL DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITIES OF ORAL CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS ISOLATES FROM HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV)-INFECTED AND NON-HIV-INFECTED SUBJECTS AND GENERATION OF STABLE FLUCONAZOLE-RESISTANT DERIVATIVES IN VITRO, ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY, 41, 1997, p617 - 623
COLEMAN, DC, CANDIDIASIS: THE EMERGENCE OF A NOVEL SPECIES, CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS, by SULLIVAN, DJ , AIDS, 11, 1997
SULLIVAN, D, HAYNES, K, MORAN, G, SHANLEY, D, COLEMAN, D, PERSISTENCE, REPLACEMENT, AND MICROEVOLUTION OF CRYPTOCOCCUS NEOFORMANS STRAINS IN RECURRENT MENINGITIS IN AIDS PATIENTS, JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY, 34, 1996, p1739 - 1744
SULLIVAN, DJ, MORAN, GP, ONEILL, LC, BENNETT, DE, SHANLEY, DB, COLEMAN, DC, MOLECULAR GENETIC APPROACHES TO IDENTIFICATION, EPIDEMIOLOGY AND TAXONOMY OF NON-ALBICANS CANDIDA SPECIES, by HENMAN, MC , JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, 44, 1996, p399 - 408
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
GARY P. MORAN, WHY CANDIDA ALBICANS FILAMENTS BETTER THAN ITS BUDDING COUSIN, EUKARYOTIC CELL, 9, (9), 2010, p1299 - 1299
GARY P. MORAN, MARY ANN JABRA-RIZK, 8TH ASM CONFERENCE ON CANDIDA AND CANDIDIASIS: MOLECULAR TOOLS, MYCOPATHOLOGIA, 162, 2006, p17 - 24
Research Expertise
Description
Since embarking on my PhD studies in 1994, I have been investigating the molecular biology of pathogenic oral microorganisms. My goal is to use the tools of molecular biology and genomics to understand the evolution of pathogenicity in oral microorganisms. Since becoming Associate Professor at the School of Dental Science at Trinity College Dublin, my research interests have expanded to examine how complex communities of oral microorganisms (i.e. microbiomes) evolve in health and disease. I have an interest in how the oral microbiome influences the overall health of the GI tract and in identifying novel microbial-induced disease mechanisms. I am currently collaborating with Crumlin Children's hospital to investigate whether Crohn's disease induces changes in the oral microbiome and to determine whether this can be used to diagnose IBD. I am also PI on a HRB funded study to investigate the premalignant condition oral leukoplakia (OLK) to understand if colonization of these lesions with a dysbiotic microbiome could act as a driver of malignant progression. Linked with this I have PhD students carrying out mechanistic studies investigating how oral bacteria, specifically Fusobacteria, interact with oral cells and how these bacteria could induce malignant changes in host epithelial cells. In addition to my research on the oral microbiome, my work on virulence and drug resistance Candida species has resulted in numerous highly cited publications. Very soon after the publication of the C. albicans genome sequence in the early 2000's, my research focused on exploiting this sequence information to identify the genes that make C. albicans the most virulent of the Candida species. In one of the first microarray studies to be published on Candida species, I carried out comparative genomic hybridizations between C. dubliniensis and C. albicans on glass slide arrays that identified many unique genes in C. albicans such as the virulence factors SAP6 and HYR1, and also identified a C. albicans-specific family of genes known as the TLO family of genes, due to their telomeric location. In collaboration with Derek Sullivan, we used these data to successfully lobby the Sanger Centre in Cambridge UK to generate a whole genome sequence for C. dubliniensis at a time when genome sequencing was a major under-taking. These data were published in Genome Research and highlight many disparities in gene family content between C. albicans and C. dubliniensis. I was the first molecular biologist to develop tools to study the pathogenicity of Candida dubliniensis that have facilitated a new field of comparative virulence in Candida species. I am currently funded by SFI to investigate the function of the novel TLO gene family in C. albicans using CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis to create TLO gene mutants in order to determine their role in the evolution of virulence in C. albicans.Projects
- Title
- The role in virulence and drug target potential of the Candida albicans telomeric TLO gene family
- Summary
- The genome of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans contains a family of ~14 telomeric TLO genes encoding putative transcription factors. The closely related non-pathogenic species C. dubliniensis contains only two orthologous genes, suggesting that the increased gene number in C. albicans may contribute to the increased virulence of this species. Using a combination of mutant construction, transcript profiling and ChIP-Chip analysis, this study aims to determine the role of these gene in the biology and virulence of Candida species.
- Funding Agency
- Science Foundation Ireland
- Date From
- 2020
- Date To
- Present
- Title
- The role of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Candida albicans interkingdom interactions in promoting OSCC
- Summary
- Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) exerts a significant clinical and financial burden worldwide. Recently, there has been increasing interest in the role of the microbiome in OSCC. Among microbial species that have frequently been identified in association with OSCC and demonstrated to promote oral carcinogenesis, both in vitro and in animal models, include the bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum and the fungus Candida albicans. The two species have been demonstrated to interact via co-aggregation; however, whether such interkingdom interaction can promote oral carcinogenesis has never been explored The current proposal builds on our previous studies investigating the microbiome associated with OSCC and oral leukoplakia in clinical samples, and assessing the effects of oral bacteria against oral epithelial cell lines in vitro. The proposed studies will investigate for the first time the potentially synergistic interaction between C. albicans and F. nucleatum in malignant progression, which we hypothesize is facilitated by their coaggregation. Based on our preliminary data, we also hypothesize that the two species mediate part of their oncogenic properties through upregulation of INHBA, a proposed oncogene acting through the TGF-ß pathway. To address these hypotheses, we propose to assess synergistic effects of C. albicans and F. nucleatum on normal, dysplastic, and neoplastic oral epithelium in vitro (Aim 1), and to study the carcinogenicity of C. albicans and F. nucleatum co-carriage in 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide-induced OSCC mouse model (Aim 2). Combinations of wild-type, aggregation +ve strains and mutant, aggregation-deficient strains of the two species will be used in the two aims to assess the role of co-aggregation in promoting synergistic carcinogenicity. The involvement of INHBA upregulation in this synergy will be investigated by mechanistic gene knockdown experiments. The project will employ a range of technologies including cellular and biochemical assays, metatranscriptomics, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, q-PCR, fluorescent in-situ hybridization and 16S sequencing to investigate the effect of treating the cell lines and mice with the test species. This innovative, exploratory study leverages the complementary expertise of the research team to provide a first insight into the potential role of interkingdom microbial interactions in OSCC and shed light on novel mechanisms by which C. albicans and F. nucleatum may contribute to oral carcinogenesis
- Funding Agency
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Date From
- 01/01/24
- Date To
- 31/12/25
- Title
- Analysis of the oral metagenome for markers of malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia
- Summary
- Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for 90% of oral cancers. According to the National Cancer Registry, the rate of OSCC in Ireland is increasing annually by 3.3%. OSCCs can arise de novo or from preneoplasis such as Oral Leukoplakia (OLK). Risks factors for OLK include smoking and alcohol consumption, however the mechanisms by which OLK progresses to OSCC are poorly understood and it is difficult to predict which OLKs will resolve or progress. The degree of dysplasia on biopsy is the best indicator of progression, with severe dysplasia being associated with greater risk relative to mild or moderate dysplasia. Recently, oral bacteria such as Fusobacterium nucleatum have been identified as potential drivers of malignant progression in the GI tract. Our recently published preliminary data examining the microbiome of OLK has shown that OLK lesions are colonised with a greater abundance of Fusobacteria, Campylobacter species and Candida albicans compared to healthy mucosa from the same patient. Our hypothesis is that changes in the composition of the mucosal microbiome are a driver of the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia (OLK) to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Characterisation of these microbiome changes will allow us to identify the organisms associated with severe dysplasia and therefore develop tests to identify the patients at greatest risk of malignant progression. In this study we will carry out a comprehensive comparison of the OLK microbiome compared to the healthy mucosal microbiome by Illumina sequence analysis in a large cohort of patients (n=235) to determine whether colonisation of OLK with certain microorganisms is significantly associated with severe dysplasia. These data will indicate whether routine microbiome profiling could be useful as a tool to predict the risk of malignant progression and whether topical antibiotic therapy is warranted to reduce the risk of OSCC.
- Funding Agency
- Health Research Board
- Date From
- 01/10/2019
- Date To
- 30/09/2024
- Title
- The Oral Microbiome in Disease
- Summary
- The oral micro biome constitutes several hundred species of bacteria and fungi. Their role in oral and systemic health is poorly understood. This study will use 16s and 18s sequencing to identify populations associated with malignant lesions in the oral cavity and marker organisms for diseases of the bowel (colitis and Crohn's)
- Funding Agency
- Libyan People's Bureau
- Date From
- 01/09/2014
- Date To
- Present
- Title
- The role of Tor kinase in filamentation in Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis
- Summary
- Our recent studies have highlighted the role of nutrients and the nutrient sensing kinase Tor1 in regulating filamentation and virulence in the fungal pathogen C. dubliniensis. In this study we will examine the role of mutations in the Tor kinase pathway that lead to Tor hyperactivity. It is our hypothesis that Tor hyperactive strains of C. albicans will resemble the less virulent pathogen C. dubliniensis. These data will indicate whether Tor agonists have potential as antifungal agents.
- Funding Agency
- Science Foundation Ireland
- Date From
- 2011
- Date To
- 2015
- Title
- The Hag genes of Porphyromonas gingivalis
- Summary
- We are currently analysing the roles of the HagB and HagC outer membrane proteins of P. gingivalis in adhesion and tissue invasion. This study involves creating deletion mutants of the HagB and HagC genes, and a double HagB/C mutant. The pathogenicity of these mutants will be assessed using in vitro and in vivo infection models. This study is being carried out in collaboration with Prof, Ann Progulske-Fox, university of Florida.
- Funding Agency
- TCD and Dublin Dental University Hospital
- Date From
- 2010
- Date To
- 2016
- Title
- The role of Fusobacterium nucleatum in oral malignancy
- Summary
- F. nucleatum is a bacterium found with increased abundance on many malignant tissues in the GI tract. We have previously found high levels of this bacterium on premalignant oral tissues. This study involves culture and characterisation of F. nucleatum isolates from oral leukoplakia and analysis of their ability to invade oral cells and induce inflammation. Isolates are being characterised at the genetic level by whole genome sequencing.
- Funding Agency
- TCD
- Date From
- 01/09/2018
- Title
- Analysis of the Oral Microbiome in Children with Crohn's disease
- Funding Agency
- Libyan People's Bureau
- Date From
- 2015
- Date To
- 2019
- Title
- The role of a novel telomere-associated (TLO) gene family in fungal pathogenesis
- Funding Agency
- Science Foundation Ireland
- Date From
- 2011
- Date To
- 2015
- Title
- The role of hyphae and hypha-specific genes in the pathogenesis of Candida dubliniensis
- Funding Agency
- Health Research Board
- Date From
- 2009
- Date To
- 2013
- Title
- The role of cell wall di-tyrosine in Candida albicans: potential novel antifungal drug targets
- Funding Agency
- Health Research Board
- Date From
- 2006
- Date To
- 2010
- Title
- Comparison of virulence gene expression in Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis
- Funding Agency
- Health Research Board
- Date From
- 2004
- Date To
- 2008
- Title
- Comparative genomic analysis of Candida albicans and Candida dublineinsis: a tool for the analysis of candidal pathogenicity
- Funding Agency
- Science Foundation Ireland
- Title
- Triclosan-based antagonism of azole antifungal drugs against oral Candida species
- Funding Agency
- Health Research Board
- Date From
- 2003
- Date To
- 2007
- Title
- Investigation of the molecular mechanisms of azole resistance in C. dubliniensis
- Funding Agency
- Health Research Board
- Date From
- 1999
- Date To
- 2003
- Title
- The TLO genes of Candida dubliniensis
- Funding Agency
- TCD
- Date From
- 2010
- Date To
- 2014
Recognition
Representations
Member of the Irish Expert body on Fluorides and Health
Irish Division Committee, Microbiology Society UK
President of the Irish Fungal Society
Meetings Secretary of the British Society of Medical Mycology
Editor for Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing group)
Topic Editor for Frontiers in Microbiology
Grant reviewer for MRC UK, Wellcome Trust, NSF USA, and H2020 Marie Curie Fellowship programme, among others.
Awards and Honours
Fellow of TCD
Irish Division of International Association of Dental Research (IADR) Elida Gibbs Award
F.S. Stewart prize (Awarded by Dept. of Microbiology, TCD, for highest grade in moderatorship exam)
EMBO Short-term Fellowship
Memberships
British Society for Medical Mycology
Internation Association of Dental Research (IADR)
American Society for Microbiology
Society for General Microbiology
Dublin Academy of Pathogenomics and Infection Biology
Irish Fungal Society (IFS)