Mucosal
Pathogens
Group Head
Dr Marguerite Clyne
01 716 6619 / [email protected]
UCD Health Sciences Centre
Our area of interest is how bacteria interact with human and animal tissue and
mediating colonization of mucus and gastric cells by the bacteria. We are cur-
cause disease. An area of particular interest is how bacteria colonise and live in
rently investigating how TFF1 promotes infection by H. pylori and also how the
mucus. We have developed a number of novel systems to learn how bacteria
bacteria modulates expression of both TFF1 and the gastric mucin MUC5Ac.
colonise mucus and interact with different components of mucus. Such
This work is sponsored by IRCSET.
knowledge can lead to the development of new therapeutics that can prevent
infection as alternatives to antibiotics.
(3)The role of mucus and mucins in mediating Pseudomonas aeruginosa
colonization of the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung.
Based in the Health Science Centre in UCD, we are a strong translational
research group, specialising in cellular microbiology and the study of pathogen
interactions. We have worked for a long time with the gastrointestinal pathogens Helicobacter pylori and Campylobacter jejuni and more recently we have
started to work also with Pseudomonas aeruginosa an opportunistic pathogen
that is a particular problem for individuals with cystic fibrosis.
Three projects that we are currently involved in are:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is commonly associated with chronic airway infection
(1) Biomodulation of the gastrointestinal epithelial glycome by bacteria.
in CF patients. The reasons for the particular predilection of P. aeruginosa for
We are part of the Alimentary Glycoscience Research Cluster an SFI funded
the CF airway are incompletely understood. In this study we aim to test the
strategic research cluster lead by NUI Galway. In this project we aim to inves-
hypothesis that the environment of the CF lung, which contains thick stagnant
tigate the effect of bacterial colonization by both commensals and pathogens
mucus and mucins with altered glycans compared to non-diseased individuals
on glycosylation in the gut and how these changes can be either beneficial or
plays an important role in initiation of colonisation and maintenance of chronic
harmful to the host. As part of this project we are also looking at the direct
bacterial infection. This work is being done in collaboration with Scientists and
interaction of bacteria with oligosaccharides found on mucins and epithelial
Clinicans from Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin and is funded by the
cell membranes and the role these interactions play in mediating infection.
Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland and the Health Research Board.
(2) Elucidation of the mechanisms that Helicobacter pylori uses to modulate
TFF1 expression in the gastric mucosa.
We have identified TFF1, a member of the trefoil peptide family of proteins
found in gastric mucus, as a protein that interacts with H. pylori. This interaction which is mediated by the LPS of the bacteria plays an important role in
Mucosal Pathogens Group
Grants:
Active national and international
collaborators & projects:
Title: Glycoscience Research Cluster: Characterising and Mining the Epithelial Glycosylation in Host/
Dr Colm Reid, UCD School of Veterinary
Microbial Interactions. Strategic Research Cluster
Medicine
Co Principal Applicant
Prof Stephen Carrington,UCD School of
Funder: Science Foundation Ireland
Veterinary Medicine.
Start End/Dates: Jan 2009-Dec 2013
Prof Billy Bourke, UCD School of Medicine and
Amount: €576,069
Medical Science
Dr Marguerite Clyne
Prof Ronan O’Connell, School of Medicine and
Lecturer UCD School of Medicine
Title: The role of mucus and mucins in mediating
Medical Science
& Medical Science
Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization of the cystic
Dr Felicity May, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
fibrosis lung.Project grant
Prof Liberato Marzullo, University of Salerno
Location: UCD Health Sciences Centre
Funder: MRCG (Cystic Fibrosis Association of
Dr Valerie Urbach, National Children’s Research
Contact: 01 716 6619
Ireland)/HRB
Centre
Email: [email protected]
Start End/Dates: Dec 2011-Dec 2014
Prof Lokesh Joshi, NUI Galway
Amount: €123,850
Dr Rita Hickey, Teagasc
My research investigates how pathogens such
as Helicobacter pylori, Campylobacter jejuni and
Title: Elucidation of the mechanisms that Helico-
Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonise the gut and the
bacter pylori uses to modulate TFF1 expression in
lung. I am involved in an inter-institutional, multi-
the gastric mucosa. Postgraduate Scholarship
disciplinary consortium of academic and industrial
Funder: IRCSET
researchers funded by Science Foundation Ireland
Start End/Dates: Sept 2011- Sept 2014
aimed at understanding the glycobiology of human
Amount: €72,000
intestinal infections. I am also funded by the Cystic
Fibrosis Association of Ireland and the Health
Research Board to investigate how P. aeruginosa
colonises and maintains infection in the lung.
Publications:
1. Backert S, Clyne M. Pathogenesis of Helicobacter
pylori infection. Helicobacter 2011,16 Suppl 1:19-25.
2. Backert S, Clyne M, Tegtmeyer N. Molecular
mechanisms of gastric epithelial cell adhesion and
injection of CagA by Helicobacter pylori. Cell Commun Signal 2011,9:28.
3. Dolan B, Naughton J, Tegtmeyer N, May FE,
Clyne M. The interaction of Helicobacter pylori with
the adherent mucus gel layer secreted by polarized
HT29-MTX-E12 cells. PLoS One 2012,7:e47300.
4. Lane JA, Mariño K, Naughton J, Kavanaugh D,
Clyne M, Carrington SD, et al. Anti-infective bovine
colostrum oligosaccharides: Campylobacter jejuni as
a case study. Int J Food Microbiol 2012,157:182-188.
5. Yan D, Naughton J, Clyne M, Murphy PV.
Synthesis of bivalent glycoclusters containing
GlcNAc as hexasaccharide mimetics. Bactericidal
activity against Helicobacter pylori. Carbohydr Res
2012,360:1-7.
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Mucosal Pathogens Group