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
- MICR 480 Research Project (Convenor)
- MICR 490 Dissertation (Convenor)
- MICR 495 / IMMU 495 Master's Thesis Preparation (Convenor)
- MICR 461 Molecular Microbiology
- MICR 332 Health Microbiology
- MICR 223 Infection and Immunity
- PHCY 219 Microbiology and Immunology (for BPharm)
- MELS 221 Microbes to Medicine (for BMLSc)
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)