P. O'Neill

Long-term survival of asexual Zymoseptoria tritici spores in the environment

This study shows Zymoseptoria tritici spores can survive and remain virulent in water and soil for up to 7 weeks, with gene expression changes reflecting stress adaptation and metabolic shifts.

A dirofilariasis mouse model for heartworm preclinical research

This paper establishes a mouse model for heartworm drug screening, showing it can effectively assess drug efficacy against D. immitis larvae.

Protein-specific signal peptides for mammalian vector engineering

This paper develops a toolkit of signal peptides for mammalian cell expression, validated by increasing protein titers by 1.8x using machine learning and in silico/in vitro testing.

Nutrient and salt depletion synergistically boosts glucose metabolism in individual bacteria

This study shows that nutrient and salt depletion in E. coli increases glucose accumulation rates at the translational and posttranslational levels, challenging the view that growth rate alone reflects metabolic status.

Novel inhibition mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 main protease by ebselen and its derivatives

This study identifies a novel inhibition mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 main protease by ebselen and its derivatives through crystallography and mass spectrometry, revealing a unique covalent adduct formation and by-product generation.

Positively selected modifications in the pore of TbAQP2 allow pentamidine to enter Trypanosoma brucei

The paper identifies mutations in TbAQP2 that enable pentamidine permeation, showing how specific structural changes in the aquaporin pore allow drug entry in Trypanosoma brucei.