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Dr. Ursula Mary Bond
Fellow Emeritus, Microbiology

Biography

Dr. Ursula Bond, a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin, graduated from TCD with a degree in Biochemistry and was awarded a PhD in Molecular Biology by Washington University, St Louis, Missouri. As a PhD student, Dr. Bond was awarded the Carl F. and Gerty T. Cori prize for research excellence in Biochemistry. She conducted post-doctoral research at Yale University as an Anna Fuller Fellow before returning to Trinity College Dublin, taking up an academic role in the Department of Microbiology.

A world leader in the genetics of industrial yeasts, Dr. Bond has published seminal papers in the fields of yeast genetics and molecular biology. Key areas of research include the (i) Composition, Structure and Evolution of the genomes of the Lager Yeasts, Saccharomyces pastorianus, (ii) adaptive evolution and synthetic biology approaches to expand the metabolic and physiological capacities of industrial yeasts and (iii) fundamental molecular biological questions on the molecular mechanisms of RNA biogenesis in yeasts.

During her tenure at Trinity, Dr. Bond has been awarded 21 research grants, and was the lead PI on 19, with research funding of 15.67 million euro. She currently leads an International consortium of academic and industrial scientists studying the genetics of flavour production in industrial yeasts in a project funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Publications

de la Cerda-Garcia Caro, R. and Hokamp, K. and Roche, F. and Thompson, G. and Timouma, S. and Delneri, D. and Bond, U., Aneuploidy influences the gene expression profiles in Saccharomyces pastorianus group I and II strains during fermentation, PLoS Genetics, 18, (4), 2022 Journal Article, 2022 TARA - Full Text DOI

de la Cerda Garcia-Caro, R. and Thompson, G. and Zhang, P. and Hokamp, K. and Roche, F. and Carlin, S. and Vrhovsek, U. and Bond, U., Enhanced flavour profiles through radicicol induced genomic variation in the lager yeasts, Saccharomyces pastorianus, Yeast, 39, (10), 2022, p535-547 Journal Article, 2022 DOI

Lin, C.L. and García-Caro, R.D.L.C. and Zhang, P. and Carlin, S. and Gottlieb, A. and Petersen, M.A. and Vrhovsek, U. and Bond, U., Packing a punch: Understanding how flavours are produced in lager fermentations, FEMS Yeast Research, 21, (5), 2021 Journal Article, 2021 DOI TARA - Full Text

O'Brien, C.E. and Oliveira-Pacheco, J. and Cinnéide, E.Ã". and Haase, M.A.B. and Hittinger, C.T. and Rogers, T.R. and Zaragoza, O. and Bond, U. and Butler, G., Population genomics of the pathogenic yeast Candida tropicalis identifies hybrid isolates in environmental samples, PLoS Pathogens, 17, (3), 2021 Journal Article, 2021 TARA - Full Text DOI

Timouma, S. and Balarezo-Cisneros, L.N. and Pinto, J. and De La Cerda, R. and Bond, U. and Schwartz, J.-M. and Delneri, D., Transcriptional Profile of the Industrial Hybrid Saccharomyces pastorianus Reveals Temperature-Dependent Allele Expression Bias and Preferential Orthologous Protein Assemblies, Molecular Biology and Evolution, 38, (12), 2021, p5437-5452 Journal Article, 2021 TARA - Full Text DOI

Langdon QK, Peris D, Baker EP, Opulente DA, Nguyen HV, Bond U, Gonçalves P, Sampaio JP, Libkind D, Hittinger CT., Fermentation innovation through complex hybridization of wild and domesticated yeasts., Nat Ecol Evol, 11, 2019, p1576 - 1586 Journal Article, 2019 TARA - Full Text URL

Vakirlis, N. and Monerawela, C. and McManus, G. and Ribeiro, O. and McLysaght, A. and James, T. and Bond, U., Evolutionary journey and characterisation of a novel pan-gene associated with beer strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Yeast, 36, (7), 2019, p425-437 Journal Article, 2019 DOI

Monerawela, C and U. Bond, The hybrid genomes of Saccharomyces pastorianus-a current perspective, YEAST, 35, (1), 2018, p39-50 Review Article, 2018 TARA - Full Text DOI

Chandre Monerawela , Brewing up a Mystery: The origins and recombination events in lager yeasts, Trinity College Dublin, 2017 Thesis, 2017

Chandre Monerawela and Ursula Bond, Brewing up a storm: The genomes of lager yeasts and how they evolved, Biotechnology Advances, 2017, p1-8 Journal Article, 2017 URL DOI

Monerawela, C and U. Bond, Recombination Sites on Hybrid Chromosomes in S. pastorianus share Common Sequence Motifs and define a Complex Evolutionary Relationship between Group I and II Lager Yeasts, FEMS Yeast Research, 17, (5), 2017, p1 - 12 Journal Article, 2017 URL

Monerawela, C. and Bond, U., Recombination sites on hybrid chromosomes in Saccharomyces pastorianus share common sequence motifs and define a complex evolutionary relationship between group I and II lager yeasts, FEMS yeast research, 17, (5), 2017 Journal Article, 2017 DOI

Thery T, Tharappel J.C, Kraszewska J, Beckett M, Bond U, Arendt E.K, Antifungal activity of a synthetic human β-defensin 3 and potential applications in cereal-based products, Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies, 38, 2016, p160 - 168 Journal Article, 2016 URL DOI

Kraszewska J, Beckett M.C, James T.C, Bond U, Comparative analysis of the antimicrobial activities of plant defensin-like and ultrashort peptides against food-spoiling bacteria, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 82, (14), 2016, p4288 - 4298 Journal Article, 2016 DOI URL

Monerawela, C., James, T.C., Wolfe, K., and U. Bond, Loss Of Lager Specific Genes And Subtelomeric Regions Define Two Different Saccharomyces cerevisiae Lineages for Saccharomyces pastorianus Group I and II Strains., FEMS Yeast Research, 15, 2015, p1 - 11 Journal Article, 2015 TARA - Full Text DOI

Kricka, W., Fitzpatrick, J., and U. Bond, Challenges for the Production of Bioethanol from Biomass using Recombinant Yeasts, Advances in Applied Microbiology, 92, 2015, p89 - 125 Journal Article, 2015 DOI

Lall, P., Lindsay, A.J., Hanscom, S., (...), McCaffrey, M.W., Khan, A.R., Structure-function analyses of the interactions between Rab11 and Rab14 small GTPases with their shared effector Rab coupling protein (RCP), Journal of Biological Chemistry, 290, (30), 2015, 18817-18832 Journal Article, 2015 TARA - Full Text DOI

Kricka, W., Fitzpatrick, J., T.C. James and U. Bond, Engineering Saccharomyces pastorianus for the co-utilisation of xylose and cellulose from biomass., Microbial Cell Factories, 14, (61), 2015, p1-11 Journal Article, 2015 TARA - Full Text DOI

James TC, Gallagher L, Titze J, Bourke P, Kavanagh J, Arendt E, Bond U., In situ production of human β defensin-3 in lager yeasts provides bactericidal activity against beer-spoiling bacteria under fermentation conditions., Journal of Applied Microbiology, 116, (2 ), 2014, p368 - 379 Journal Article, 2014 DOI

Kricka, William, Biomass to biofuel: The engineering of Saccharomyces species for the co-fermentation of cellulose and xylose, Trinity College Dublin, 2014 Thesis, 2014

Generation of New Genotypic and Phenotypic Features in Artificial and Natural Yeast Hybrids (2014) Pfliegler, W.P., Atanasova, L., Karanyicz, E., Sipiczki, M. Bond, U., Druzhinina,I.S., Sterflinger, K., and K. Lopandic, Generation of New Genotypic and Phenotypic Features in Artificial and Natural Yeast Hybrids, Food Technology and Biotechnology , 52, (1), 2014, p46 - 57 Journal Article, 2014 TARA - Full Text

Fitzpatrick, J. Kricka, W., James, T.C. and U. Bond, Expression of three Trichoderma reesei cellulase genes in Saccharomyces pastorianus for the development of a two-step process of hydrolysis and fermentation of cellulose , Journal of Applied Microbiology, epub 03/14, 2014, p96-108 Journal Article, 2014 DOI

Kricka, W., Fitzpatrick, J. and U. Bond. , Metabolic engineering of yeasts by heterologous enzyme production for degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose from biomass: a perspective, Frontiers in Microbiology, 5, 2014, p174 - 177 Journal Article, 2014 DOI TARA - Full Text

Ursula Bond, Christina SIEBKE, Tharappel JAMES, 'BIOMARKERS FOR BREAST TUMOURS FROM Hsp70-ASSOCIATED PEPTIDES', World Intellectual Property Organisation, WO2013037714 A1, 2013, The Provost, Fellows, Foundation Scholars, And The Other Members Of Board, Of The College Of The Holy And Undivided Trinity Of Queen Elizabeth, Near Dublin Patent, 2013 URL

Ursula Bond, Tharappel C. James, Joanne Kavanagh, 'Preventing spoilage in alcohol fermentations ', US, US 13/482,223, 2013, Ursula Bond, James Tharappel C, Joanne Kavanagh Patent, 2013 URL

Suzanne Beggs, Tharappel C. James and Ursula Bond, The PolyA tail length of yeast histone mRNAs varies during the cell cycle and is influenced by Sen1p and Rrp6p, Nucleic Acids Research, 40, (6), 2012, p2700 - 2711 Journal Article, 2012 TARA - Full Text

Kavanagh, Joanne, Antimicrobial Peptide Preventing Beer Spoliage, Trinity College Dublin, 2012 Thesis, 2012

Siebke C, James TC, Cummins R, O'Grady T, Kay E, Bond U., Phage display biopanning identifies the translation initiation and elongation factors (IF1α-3 and eIF-3) as components of Hsp70-peptide complexes in breast tumour cells., Cell Stress Chaperones, 17, (2), 2012, p145 - 156 Journal Article, 2012 DOI

James, T.C. and U, Bond, Molecular Mimics of the Tumour Antigen MUC1, PLOS One, 7, (11), 2012, p2700 - 2711 Journal Article, 2012 DOI URL URL TARA - Full Text

Beggs, Suzanne, Identification of factors involved in 3' end processing and transcription termination of histone mRNAs, Trinity College Dublin, 2011 Thesis, 2011

Fitzpatrick, J, Biomass to Biofuel: toward the bioengineering of Saccharomyces species for cellulosoe degradation, Trinity College dublin, 2011 Thesis, 2011

Christina Siebke, Identification of novel peptides using phage display with the potential for the use in breast cancer therapy, Trinity College Dublin, 2011 Thesis, 2011

The Genomes of Lager Yeasts in, editor(s)Laskin, A., Sariaslani, S. and Gadd, G. , Advances in Applied Microbiology, Academic Press, 2010, pp159 - 182, [Bond, U.] Book Chapter, 2010

Bond, U., Chapter 6 The Genomes of Lager Yeasts, Advances in Applied Microbiology, 69, 2009, p159-182 Journal Article, 2009 DOI

Usher, J and Bond, U., Recombination between Homeologous Chromosomes in Lager Yeasts leads to Loss of Function of the Hybrid GPH1 Gene., Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 75, (13), 2009, p4573 - 4579 Journal Article, 2009 TARA - Full Text DOI

Querol, A and Bond U, The complex and dynamic genomes of industrial yeasts. , FEMS Microbiol Lett. , 293, (1), 2009, p1 - 10 Journal Article, 2009 TARA - Full Text DOI

Tharappel, J, Usher, J, Campbell, S and Bond, U., Lager yeasts possess dynamic genomes that undergo rearrangements and gene amplification in response to stress., Current Genetics, Jan 9; [Epub], 2008, p139-152 Journal Article, 2008 DOI

Campbell, S.G. and Del Olmo, M. and Beglan, P. and Bond, U., A sequence element downstream of the yeast HTB1 gene contributes to mRNA 3′ processing and cell cycle regulation (Molecular and Cellular Biology (2002) 22, 24, (8415-8425)), Molecular and Cellular Biology, 28, (5), 2008, p1873 Journal Article, 2008 DOI

Canaan, R, Biogenesis of histone mRNA in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Trinity College Dublin, 2007 Thesis, 2007

Usher, Jane, Analysis of the genomic organisation and gene expression of brewery strains of yeast, Trinity College Dublin, 2007 Thesis, 2007

Canavan, R and U. Bond, Deletion of the nuclear exosome component RRP6 leads to continued accumulation of the histone mRNA HTB1 in S-phase of the cell cycle in Saccharomyces cerevisiae., Nucleic Acids Research, 35, (18), 2007, p6268 - 6279 Journal Article, 2007 TARA - Full Text DOI

U. Bond, Stressed Out! The effects of environmental stress on mRNA metabolism., FEMS Yeast Research, 6, 2006, p160 - 170 Journal Article, 2006

Principles and applications of genomics and proteomics in the analysis of industrial yeasts. in, editor(s)A. Querol , The Yeast Handbook, Heidleberg, Springer-Verlag, 2006, pp175 - 213, [A. Blomberg and U. Bond] Book Chapter, 2006

Arnaiz, B. and Madrigal-Estebas, L. and Todryk, S. and James, T.C. and Doherty, D.G. and Bond, U., A novel method to identify and characterise peptide heat shock protein 70-associated antigens, Journal of Immune Based Therapies and Vaccines, 4, (2), 2006 Journal Article, 2006 DOI

Arnaiz B, Madrigal-Estebas L, Todryk S, James TC, Doherty DG, Bond U., A Novel method to identify and characterise peptide mimotopes of heat shock protein 70-associated antigens., Journal of Immune Based Therapies and Vaccines, 4, (12), 2006, p1-12 Journal Article, 2006 DOI

Arnaiz, Blanca, Characterisation of peptide mimics to antigens chaperoned by Hsp70 in MDA-MB-231 Breast tumour cells, Trinity College Dublin, 2005 Thesis, 2005

Arnaiz, B., L. Madrigal, D. Doherty, T.C.James and U. Bond, Structural mimics of heat shock protein 70- associated peptides from breast tumour cells can prime T-cells to respond to tumour antigens, European Journal of Cancer, 2, 2004, p79 Journal Article, 2004

T.C. James, D. Donnelly and U. Bond, Aneuploidy and copy number breakpoints in the genome of lager yeasts mapped by microarray hybridisation, Current Genetics, 24, 2004, p360 - 370 Journal Article, 2004

T.C. James, S. Campbell, D. Donnelly and U. Bond, Transcription profile of a brewery yeast under fermentation conditions, Journal of Applied Microbiology., 94, 2003, p432 - 448 Journal Article, 2003

Campbell, S.G. and Del Olmo, M.L. and Beglan, P. and Bond, U., A sequence element downstream of the yeast HTB1 gene contributes to mRNA 3′ processing and cell cycle regulation, Molecular and Cellular Biology, 22, (24), 2002, p8415-8425 Journal Article, 2002 DOI

T.C. James, S. Campbell, and U. Bond, Comparative Analysis of global gene expression in lager and laboratory yeast strains grown in wort, Proc. of IEEE: Challenges in Functional Genomics, 90, 2002, p1887 - 1899 Journal Article, 2002

Campbell, S., M. li del Olmo, Beglan, P. and U. Bond, A sequence element downstream of the yeast HTB1 gene connects mRNA'3 end processing, transcription termination and cell cycle regulation of a histone gene, Mol. Cell Biol., 22, 2002, p8415 - 8425 Journal Article, 2002

Campbell, Susan, Characterisation of histone mRNA 3' end processing in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Trinity College Dublin, 2001 Thesis, 2001

Bond, U., S. Campbell and T.C. James, A model organism for genomic and postgenomic studies, IEEE: Engineering in Medicine and Biology, 20, 2001, p22 - 32 Journal Article, 2001

Bond, U. and Campbell, S.G. and James, T.C., A model organism for genomic and postgenomic studies: The vast amount of genetic data available on saccharomyces cerevisiae provides important clues, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine, 20, (4), 2001, p22-32 Journal Article, 2001 DOI

Bond, U. and T. C. James, Dynamic changes in small nuclear ribonucleoproteins of heat-stressed and thermotolerant HeLa cells, Int. J. Biochem. Cell. Biol., 32, 2000, p644 - 656 Journal Article, 2000

Brosnan, T., T. C. James, D. Donnelly and U. Bond, The stress response is repressed during fermentation in brewery strains of yeast, J. Appl. Microbiology, 88, 2000, p746 - 755 Journal Article, 2000

Campbell, S. and U. Bond, Bio-informatical analysis of histone 3'end processing in Saccharomycesmcerevisiae:isentification of U7-like RNAs, Biochem. Soc. Trans., 28, 2000, p41 Journal Article, 2000

Bracken, Adrian, Interaction of heat shock proteins with splicing components during and after thermal stress, Trinity College Dublin, 1999 Thesis, 1999

Bracken A. and U. Bond, Reassembly and protection of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles by heat shock proteins in yeast cells, RNA, 5, 1999, p1586 - 1596 Journal Article, 1999 URL

Brosnan, M.P, Alterations in Gene Expression of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during the brewing process, Trinity College Dublin, 1998 Thesis, 1998

Ngan,V, G. Vacano, U. Bond, and T.C. James, Characterization of a new class of transcribed repetitive DNA sequence which exists as a hybrid with HP1 mRNA; potential for site specific recombination in Drosophila melanogaster, J. Insect Mol. Biol. and Biochem., 25, 1995, p331 - 334 Journal Article, 1995

Bond, U, and T. Yario, The steady state levels and structure of the U7 snRNP are constant during the human cell cycle: lack of cell cycle regulation of histone mRNA 3' end formation, Cell. Mol. Biol. Res., 40, 1994, p27 - 34 Journal Article, 1994

N.P. Pandey, J. Sun, A.S. Williams, V.D. Brown, U. Bond and W. F. Marzluff, Point mutations in the stem-loop at the 3' end of mouse histone mRNA reduce expression by reducing the efficiency of 3' end formation, Mol. Cell Biol., , 14, 1994, p1709 - 1720 Journal Article, 1994

Bond, U, T. Yario and J. A. Steitz, Analysis of the basepairing interaction between mammalian U7 and the downstream element of histone pre-mRNAs, J. Cellular Biochem, 1991, p256 Journal Article, 1991

Bond, U, T. Yario, and J. A. Steitz, Multiple processing-defective mutations in a mammalian histone pre-mRNA are suppressed by compensatory changes in U7 RNA both in vivo and in vitro, Genes and Dev., 5, 1991, p1709 - 1722 Journal Article, 1991

Ichimura S, Mita K, Nenol M, James T C, and Bond U. , Developmental Expression Of Ubiquitin Genes In Posterior Silk Gland Of Bombyx-Mori, Journal of Cell Biology, 111, (5), 1990, p1 - 5 Journal Article, 1990

T. S. Nowak Jr, U. Bond and M. J. Schlesinger, Heat shock levels in brain and other tissues after hyperthermia and transient ischemia, J. Neurochem., 54, (2), 1990, p451 - 458 Journal Article, 1990

M. J. Schlesinger, N. C. Collier, N. Agell and U. Bond, Molecular events in avian cells stressed by heat shock and arsenite. In Stress Induced Proteins, J. Cellular Biochemistry, 1989, p137 - 148 Journal Article, 1989

K. Parker and U. Bond, Analysis of Pre-mRNAs in heat shocked Hela cells allows identification of the upstream termination site of human polymerase I transcription, Mol. Cell. Biol., 9, 1989, p2500 - 2512 Journal Article, 1989

Schlesinger M.J., Collier N and U. Bond , Events in heat-shocked avian fibroblasts, J. Cell. Biochem, 12, 1988, p1-4 Journal Article, 1988

U. Bond, Heat shock but not other stress inducers leads to the disruption of a sub-set of snRNPS and inhibition of in vitro splicing in HeLa cells, EMBO J., 7, 1988, p3509 - 3518 Journal Article, 1988

N. Agell, U. Bond, and M.J. Schlesinger, In vitro proteolytic processing of a di-ubiquitin and a truncated di-biquitin from in vitro generated mRNAs, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 85, 1988, p3693 - 3697 Journal Article, 1988

U. Bond, N. Agell, A.L. Haas, K. Redmen, and M.J. Schlesinger, Ubiquitin in stressed chicken embryo fibroblasts, J. Biol. Chem, 263, 1988, p2384 - 2388 Journal Article, 1988

Steitz, J. and U. Bond, Differential effects of stress on pre-messenger RNA processing in HeLa cells, J. Cell. Biochem, (12), 1988, p267 - 271 Journal Article, 1988

U. Bond and M.J. Schlesinger, Heat Shock Proteins and Development, Adv. Genetics., 24, 1987, p1 - 29 Journal Article, 1987

M.J. Schlesinger and U. Bond, Ubiquitin Genes, Oxford Surveys on Eukaryotic Genes, 4, 1987, p77 - 91 Journal Article, 1987

E. Siegfried, G.H. Thomas, U.M. Bond and S.C.R. Elgin, Characterization of a supercoil-dependent S1 sensitive site 5' to the Drosophila melanogaster hsp 26 gene, Nuc. Acids Res., 14, 1986, p9425 - 9444 Journal Article, 1986

U. Bond and M.J. Schlesinger, The chicken ubiquitin gene contains a heat shock promoter and expresses an unstable mRNA in heat shocked cells, Mol. Cell Biol, 12, 1986, p4602 - 4610 Journal Article, 1986

T.C. James, C.A. Maack, U.M. Bond, J.C. Champion and J.R. Tata, Xenopus egg coat proteins. II. Characterization of messenger RNAs of the oviduct and cloning of estradiol inducible sequences, Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 80, 1985, p89 - 97 Journal Article, 1985

U. Bond and M.J. Schlesinger, Ubiquitin is a heat shock protein in chicken embryo fibroblasts, Mol. Cell. Biol., 5, 1985, p949 - 956 Journal Article, 1985

T.C. James, U.M. Bond, C.A. Maack, S.W. Applebaum, and J.R. Tata, Evolutionary conservation of vitellogenin genes, DNA, 1, 1982, p345 - 353 Journal Article, 1982

C. O'Fagain, U. Bond, B.A. Orsi, and T.J. Mantle, The slow kinetic transients of Arylsulphatase A., Biochem. J., 201, 1982, p345 - 352 Journal Article, 1982

T.C. James, U.M. Bond, C.A. Maack, S.W. Applebaum, and J.R. Tata, Construction and partial characterization of a recombinant DNA probe for locust vitellogenin messenger RNA, Biochem. J., 205, 1982, p521 - 528 Journal Article, 1982

Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications

Bond, U., Monerawela, C., and I. Sugre. (2015) , Impact of unique lager-specific genes on phenotypes in Saccharomyces pastorianus. , YEAST, International Congress on Yeast genetics and Molecular Biology, Levico Therme, Italy, 32, 2015 Conference Paper, 2015

U. Bond, J. Usher and T.C. James , Brewing yeasts possess dynamic genomes that undergo rearrangements and chromosome loss in response to stress., YEAST, International Congress on Yeast genetics and Molecular Biology, Serrento Italy, 2007, 24, 2007 Conference Paper, 2007

Donnelly, D., P. Brosnan, and U. Bond. , The active response to stress., A New Era of Opportunity, European Brewery Monograph , Proceedings of the European Brewery Convention Symposium, Nutfield, U.K., , 1999, 228, 1999 Conference Paper, 1999

Donnelly, D.; Brosnan, P., U. Bond , Stress responses in brewing yeasts , Journal of the Institute of Brewing , 2nd Technical Meeting of the European Brewery Convention Brewing Science Group , Edinburgh, Scotland, 1998, 105, (1), 1998, pp8- Conference Paper, 1998

Agell, N., Bond. U and S.J Schlesinger , Proteolytic processing of polyubiquitin, polyubiquitin J. Cell Biology , 105, 1987 Conference Paper, 1987

Siegfried, E., Bond, U., Elgin, SCR., Supercoil-dependent s1-nuclease sensitive sites in the drosophila locus-67B199 , Journal of Cell Biology., 4, 1986 Conference Paper, 1986

Thomas, G.H., Siegfried, E., Bond. U, and S. Elgin. , Hypersensitivity sites in Hsp26 Promoter, Genetics, 113, (1), 1986 Conference Paper, 1986

James T C, Maack C C, Bond U, et al , Vitellogenin coding sequences in insects are conserved , Journal of Cellular Biochemistry , 6, 1982 Conference Paper, 1982

Research Expertise

Description

Ursula Bond, Eukaryotic Gene Expression and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology. 1. The Genomes of Lager Yeasts My research group focuses on understanding the complex genetic make-up of yeasts used in the production of lager beer. Saccharomyces pastorinaus is a hybrid species that emerged just 500-600 years ago as a result of a fusion between of two yeast species, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces eubayanus. There are two different types of lager yeast, namely Groups I and II that differ from each other in their gene content and structure. Given the importance of these yeasts in the global beer industry, we are addressing questions such as . What is the genetic composition of the genomes of lager yeasts? We discovered that the parent genomes have recombined at specific chromosomal locations to create a unique set of hybrid chromosomes. We identified a common sequence motif at the recombination epicentres, indicative of a common molecular mechanism controlling the recombination events. Recombination at these sites is induced in response to environmental stress. Thus, stresses encountered during industrial fermentations play an important role in the evolution of these yeasts. . How did this species evolve? By analysing the genomes of hundreds of yeast species, we search for the ancestral origins of the species. We discovered that the genomes of lagers yeasts contain genetic information related to modern day Ale and Stout yeasts, leading us to hypothesis that the two lager yeast types arose by sequential rounds of hybridisation firstly between S. eubayanus and an Ale yeasts and subsequently with a Stout yeasts giving rise to Group I and II lager yeasts respectively. . Unique genetic characteristics of lager yeasts. Through mining the genomes of lager yeasts, we identified several genes unique to the species. These include hybrid genes emerging as a result of the recombination between parental chromosomes as well as genes located at the tips of chromosomes have been lost in most other yeast species but preferentially retained in lager yeasts. Through analyzing the effects of the gene products on the biochemistry and physiology of the cell, we aim to decipher the complex algorithm of gene expression leading to the unique characteristics of beer produced by lager yeasts. 2. Improving yeast strains. We are interested in generating industrial yeasts with improved characteristics such as increased ethanol tolerance, improved fermentation capacity and for producing new biological products, using adaptive evolution, synthetic biology and metabolic engineering approaches. Specifically, we have developed (i) Strains of lager yeasts that can metabolise both xylose and cellulose, the major components of plant biomass, in a project aimed at using alternative environmentally sustainable energy sources for biofuel production. (ii) Lager yeasts that produce their own natural antibacterial peptides, by expressing genes encoding defensin-like peptides from plant sources. We examine how the co-expression of multiple peptides on artificial chromosomes can provide natural protection against beer-spoiling bacteria. 3. RNA Production in Yeasts. We study fundamental molecular biological questions in yeasts, specifically relating to the biogenesis RNA. Specifically, we are interested in analysing the novel alleles of XRN1 found exclusively in the lager yeasts. XRN1 encodes for a 5' to 3' exonuclease that plays a central role in the degradation of mRNAs in the cytoplasm and in controlling the steady state levels of mRNA in the cell. Lager yeasts have hybrid copies of XRN1, containing sequences from both S. cerevisiae and S. eubayanus. We are interested in understanding how the presence of the hybrid copies of XRN1 influence the RNA landscape of the lager yeast cells.

Projects

  • Title
    • Aromagenesis
  • Summary
    • Project AROMAGENESIS will bring together the expertise of researchers in both academia and industry with the strategic aim of generating new yeast strains with novel and unique sensory flavor characteristics. The project will provide training and education of the next generation of scientists in the areas of yeast fermentation processes, physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, genomics and synthetic biology through a unique interdisciplinary and intersectoral project using cutting edge technology at the leading edge of food and beverage science.
  • Funding Agency
    • European Commission
  • Date From
    • 01/05/2017
  • Date To
    • 30/11/2021
  • Title
    • Natural peptides to enhance food quality and safety
  • Summary
    • Food spoilage through microbial contamination is a major problem in our modern food supply chain. Contamination of fresh food products by bacteria or fungi can limit shelf-life and more alarmingly, can be a major health hazard for consumers. Defensins are peptides possessing antimicrobial activity against microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses. We have previously shown the effectiveness of defensins in preventing bacterial contamination during the brewing process. The aim of the project is to expand on these findings, identifying novel defensin-like peptides that can prevent bacterial and fungal contamination during bread and dough-making processes. Two complementary approaches will be taken. First, synthetic defensin peptides, identified from animal and plant sources will be tested for antifungal and/or antibacterial activity against common bacteria and moulds that contaminate dough fermentations. The peptides will be synthetically modified to optimise antimicrobial activity. Second, yeast species used in the baking industry will be bioengineered to produce defensins in situ. In situ produced defensins and their synthetic counterparts will be evaluated to determine their effect on the shelf-life of baked good, chilled doughs. Extending our previous work, we will also examine the effects of defensins on extending the shelf-life of bottled beers and in preventing fungal contaminations during malting.
  • Funding Agency
    • Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine
  • Date From
    • 01/04/2014
  • Date To
    • 30/09/2018
  • Title
    • Preventing Beer Spoilage in Lager Fermentations: Optimisation of the production of the antimicrobial defensin peptides in lager strains of yeast, a natural defense against beer-spoiling bacteria
  • Summary
    • Beer spoilage is a major concern to every Master Brewer in the world. Contamination of brews with beer spoiling bacteria can lead to loss of entire batches of beer resulting in severe financial losses for the brewery. Product withdrawal or recall can have major implications for Brand and business. In a FIRM-funded research project, we have tested whether the naturally occurring antimicrobial agent β-defensin, which forms part of the innate immune system in humans, could be effective as a bacteriocidal agent against beer spoiling bacteria (BSMs). Having demonstrated the effectiveness of β-defensin against BSMs, we then engineered a lager yeast strain to express β-defensin and to secrete the peptide into the beer. The secreted peptide was capable of killing BSMs seeded during fermentation but not in bottled beer. This novel approach not only provides a prophylactic mechanism to prevent beer-spoilage but additionally provides added neutraceutic value to the product as the small quantities of the antimicrobial peptide remaining in the lager can enhance the natural levels of β-defensin in the oral cavity. Defensins are important in maintaining the natural balance of the normal flora of the oral cavity and to protect against bacterial infections. The purpose of the proposed research is the carry out a number of experiments to determine the optimum conditions for the production of β-defensin during and after fermentations and to determine the effective bacterial load that can be eliminated by β-defensin in contaminated fermentations. Our ultimate goal will be to prepare a patent application to protect and license the yeast strains expressing β-defensin and other subsequent modification. To achieve this, we will instigate a Road to Commercialisation strategy involving preparation of an Invention Disclosure Form, market analysis, identification and engagement with of potential industrial partners with the aim of licensing the technology to stakeholders in the Brewery Industry.
  • Funding Agency
    • Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine
  • Date From
    • 1/10/2012
  • Date To
    • 1/04/2014
  • Title
    • Bioengineering bespoke yeast strains to convert biomass to biofuel.
  • Summary
    • Biomass is an alternative source of sustainable energy as we enter the post fossil fuel era. The goal of our research is to bio-engineer bespoke yeast strains, which are capable of converting cellulosic biomass to bioethanol by melding together the fermentative capacity of yeasts with the cellulosic degradation properties of the fungus Trichoderma reesi. Such yeast strains have commercial potential through licensing to Bioethanol-producing companies, for the development of an indigenous Irish Bioethanol Industry and of benefit to breweries and distilleries for the extraction of sugars from spent grains, which currently are a waste product in both industries.
  • Funding Agency
    • Science Foundation Ireland
  • Title
    • Antimicrobial peptide preventing beer spoilage wit neutraceutic potential
  • Funding Agency
    • Department of Agriculture and Food
  • Date From
    • 01/10/06
  • Date To
    • 30/09/09
  • Title
    • Synthetic Immuno-modulatory Ppetides for Cancer Therapy
  • Funding Agency
    • Enterprise Ireland
  • Date From
    • 01/10/06
  • Date To
    • 30/09/09
  • Title
    • Biomass to Biofuel: Generation of Cellulose-based Biomass-degrading strains of brewery yeasts
  • Funding Agency
    • Environment Protection Agency
  • Date From
    • 01/10/06
  • Date To
    • 30/09/09
  • Title
    • Characterisation of the Role of messenger RNA 3' end formation and transcription termination in the cell cycle regulation of histone mRNAs
  • Funding Agency
    • Science Foundation Ireland
  • Date From
    • 01/08/06
  • Date To
    • 30/09/09

Keywords

Cancer Biology; Cell cycle regulation in yeasts; Gene Expression in yeasts; Genetic Engineering; Genetics; Genome structures in brewery yeasts; Molecular Biology; Molecular Genetics; Molecular markers and recognition; mRNA metabolism; Nuclei acids, polynucleotides, protein synthesis; Tumour markers

Recognition

Awards and Honours

Gerti T Cori award in Biochemistry 1984

Anna Fuller Cancer Fellowship 1987

Fellow of Trinity College Dublin May 2007

Memberships

Member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Member of the American Society of Microbiologists

Member of the RNA Society

Member Society for General Microbiology