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Microbiologist

Email keith.ireton@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 7396

BSc, Union College (1988) PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1993) Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Pasteur Institute (1995-1998)

Year of appointment: 2010

Previous academic positions

  • Assistant Professor, University of Toronto (1999–2005)
  • Associate Professor, University of Central Florida (2006–2009)

Teaching roles

Research interests

Medical microbiology and microbial pathogenesis, cellular microbiology

Current research

My laboratory studies molecular mechanisms of virulence of the food-borne pathogens Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella flexneri, and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). One ongoing project focuses on understanding the process by which Listeria induces its internalization into host human cells. Other projects examine how Listeria, Shigella, or EPEC spreads from infected human cells to surrounding healthy cells.

Ireton Lab 2023

PhD students: Nicole Lee, Pasan Dahanayake

Post doctoral fellows: Dr Thilina Herath, Dr. Attika Rehman

5th floor laboratory manager: Dr Antonella Gianfelice

Highly motivated graduate students interested in PhD or MSc studies are encouraged to contact Keith Ireton.

Email keith.ireton@otago.ac.nz

For information on admissions and scholarships visit:

Research projects

  • Understanding how exploitation of the host process of exocytosis promotes internalization and cell-to-cell spread of Listeria monocytogenes
  • Elucidating the molecular mechanism of cell-to-cell-spread of Shigella flexneri
  • Identification of mechanisms controlling pedestal formation by EPEC

Funding

  • Health Research Council of NZ (project grant 22/296)
  • Marsden Fund, Royal Society of NZ (project grant 22-UOO-098)

Publications

Tijoriwalla, S., Liyanage, T., Herath, T. U. B., Lee, N., Rehman, A., Gianfelice, A., & Ireton, K. (2024). The host GTPase Dynamin 2 modulates apical junction structure to control cell-to-cell spread of Listeria monocytogenes. Infection & Immunity. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1128/iai.00136-24 Journal - Research Article

Ireton, K., Gyanwali, G. C., Herath, T. U. B., & Lee, N. (2023). Exploitation of the host exocyst complex by bacterial pathogens. Molecular Microbiology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/mmi.15034 Journal - Research Other

Gyanwali, G. C., Herath, T. U. B., Gianfelice, A., & Ireton, K. (2022). Listeria monocytogenes co-opts the host exocyst complex to promote internalin A-mediated entry. Infection & Immunity, 90(12), e00326-22. doi: 10.1128/iai.00326-22 Journal - Research Article

Ireton, K., Dowd, G. C., Mortuza, R., Herath, T. U. B., Roy, A., & Gianfelice, A. (2022, August). The bacterial pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Shigella flexneri exploit host polarized exocytosis to enhance cell-to-cell spread. Verbal presentation at the Webster Centre for Infectious Diseases Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Herath, T. U. B., Roy, A., Gianfelice, A., & Ireton, K. (2022, August). Role of host exocytosis in cell-to-cell spread of Shigella flexneri. Verbal presentation at the Advances in Microscopy Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

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