Conor Mcgrath
Postgraduate Student
Department of Bioscience
Quadram Institute
United Kingdom
Biography
He was currently a PhD student in Stephanie Schuller’s group. He graduated from the University of Sheffield with an integrated master’s degree in Biological Science. During his time at University, he developed a strong interest in host-pathogen interactions and the molecular mechanisms behind pathogenesis. As a result, his final year project explored the role of 4 potential effector proteins from the invasive pathogen Burkholderia thailandensis in modulating host cell actin structure and invasion.
Research Interest
His project is to investigate the effect of commensal bacteria on EPEC pathogenesis using an in vitro co-culturing system known as the Vertical Diffusion Chamber (‘VDC’). This system facilitates culturing of anaerobic bacteria and polarized IECs, allowing interaction between the two. The severity of EPEC infection will be determined by several means, including EPEC viability, adherence to the epithelial monolayer and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by cells within the monolayer.
