Olivia McAuliffe

Research Officer

Research Interests

Genetics and genomics of food cultures, including probiotics and fermentation starter cultures.
Genomic analysis and characterisation of bacteriophage infecting food cultures and various relevant pathogens.
Influence of bacteriophage on the microbial ecology of the human gastrointestinal tract.
Development of therapeutic uses for bacteriophage against multi-drug resistant pathogens including MRSA, E. coliO157:H7, Clostridium difficile and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Development of new genetic tools for application in food cultures used in biotechnology/food industry.

Education

Ph.D. Microbiology (1995-1999)
National University of Ireland-Cork, Ireland.
Thesis: ‘Molecular characterisation of lacticin 3147, a two-component lantibiotic from Lactococcus lactis DPC3147’.

B.Sc. Microbiology (1991-1995)
National University of Ireland-Cork, Ireland

Publications

Alemayehu, D., R. P. Ross, O. O’Sullivan, A. Coffey, C. Stanton. G. F. Fitzgerald and O. McAuliffe. 2009. Genome of a virulent bacteriophage Lb338-1 that lyses the probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei cheese strain. Gene 448: 29-39.

Fallico, V., O. McAuliffe, G. F. Fitzgerald, C. Hill and R. P. Ross. 2009. The presence of pMRC01 promotes greater cell permeability and autolysis in lactococcal starter cultures. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 133: 217-24.

Horgan, M., G. O’Flynn, J. Garry, J. Cooney, A. Coffey, G. F. Fitzgerald, R. P. Ross and O. McAuliffe. 2009. Phage lysin, LysK, can be truncated to its CHAP domain and retain lytic activity against live antibiotic-resistant staphylococci. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 872-4.

McAuliffe, O., R. J Cano and T. R. Klaenhammer. 2005. Genetic analysis of two bile salt hydrolase activities in Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 4925-9.

McAuliffe, O., T. O’Keeffe, C. Hill, and R. P. Ross. 2001. Regulation of immunity to the two-component lantibiotic, lacticin 3147, by the transcriptional repressor, LtnR. Mol. Microbiol. 39: 982-993.