Dr Rebecca Owens

Biology, Human Health Institute

Assistant Professor

Callan Building
2.30
(01) 708 3839/3140

Biography

Dr. Rebecca Owens obtained her BSc (Biotechnology) in 2008 and her PhD (2013) from Maynooth University, facilitated by the award of an IRCSET Scholarship. She carried out postdoctoral research as part of the 3U Partnership between Dublin City University, Maynooth University and the Royal College of Surgeons, investigating the proteomic response of a fungal pathogen to limiting iron levels, and developing robust and transferable methodology for label-free proteomic analyses of diverse sample types using high resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry instrumentation. Following industry-sponsored post-doctoral research, Dr. Owens took up a lecturing position in the Department of Biology and established the Chemical Microbiology laboratory in Maynooth University (2017). Research areas include proteomic analyses of diverse microbial species, discerning mechanisms associated with sensitivity and resistance to antimicrobials. Through developing mass spectrometry-based approaches for investigation of changes to small molecule and protein profiles, Dr. Owens' work has enabled and supported research and industry collaborations, leading to expansion into areas relevant to food technology and microbiology.

Currently the research group is comprised of 4 PhD students, with funding from organisations including DAFM and Teagasc.

Book Chapter

Year Publication
2017 Doyle S. and Owens R.A. (2017) 'Fungal Proteomics' In: Fungi: Biology and Applications, 3rd Edition. United Kingdom : Wiley Blackwell. [Link]
2014 Owens, RA; O' Keeffe, K; O' Hanlon KA; Gallagher, L; Doyle, S (2014) 'Virulence characteristics of Aspergillus fumigatus' In: Human Pathogenic Fungi: New technologies and new insights. United Kingdom : Caister Academic Press.
2022 Masterson, H.K.; Urashima, T.; Owens, R.A.; Hickey, R.M. (2022) 'Milk oligosaccharides' In: Advanced Dairy Chemistry: Volume 3: Lactose, Water, Salts and Minor Constituents. [Link] [DOI]

Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2024 Masterson, H.K.; O'Callaghan, T.F.; O'Donovan, M.; Murphy, J.P.; Sugrue, K.; Owens, R.A.; Hickey, R.M. (2024) 'Relative quantitative proteomic profiling of bovine colostrum and transition milk at onset of lactation'. International Dairy Journal, 148 . [Link] [DOI]
2023 Downes, S.G., Doyle, S., Jones G.W. and Owens, R.A. (2023) 'Gliotoxin and related metabolites as zinc chelators: implications and exploitation to overcome antimicrobial resistance'. Essays in Biochemistry, . [Link] [DOI]
2023 Shane G Downes, Rebecca A Owens, Kieran Walshe, David A Fitzpatrick, Amber Dorey, Gary W Jones, Sean Doyle (2023) 'Gliotoxin-mediated bacterial growth inhibition is caused by specific metal ion depletion'. Scientific Reports, 13 (1). [DOI] [Full-Text]
2023 Walsh, C.; Owens, R.A.; Bottacini, F.; Lane, J.A.; van Sinderen, D.; Hickey, R.M. (2023) 'HMO-primed bifidobacteria exhibit enhanced ability to adhere to intestinal epithelial cells'. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14 . [Link] [DOI]
2023 Drumm, S.D.; Cormican, P.; Owens, R.A.; Mitchell, J.; Keane, O.M. (2023) 'Immunoproteomic analysis of the serum IgG response to cell wall-associated proteins of Staphylococcus aureus strains belonging to CC97 and CC151'. Veterinary Research, 54 . [Link] [DOI]
2022 Drumm S.D.; Cormican P.; O'Boyle P.; Owens R.A.; Mitchell J.; Keane O.M. (2022) 'Immunoproteomic analysis of the secretome of bovine-adapted strains of Staphylococcus aureus demonstrates a strain-specific humoral response'. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 249 . [DOI] [Full-Text]
2022 Conlon N., Murphy, R.A., Corrigan A., Doyle S., Owens R.A. and Fagan S. (2022) 'Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Reveals Yeast Cell Wall Products Influence the Serum Proteome Composition of Broiler Chickens'. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23 (19):1-27. [Link] [DOI]
2021 Sahu N; Merényi Z; Bálint B; Kiss B; Sipos G; Owens RA; Nagy LG; (2021) 'Hallmarks of Basidiomycete Soft- and White-Rot in Wood-Decay -Omics Data of Two Armillaria Species'. Microorganisms, 9 (1). [DOI] [Full-Text]
2021 Owens R.A.; Doyle S. (2021) 'Effects of antifungal agents on the fungal proteome: informing on mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance'. Expert Review of Proteomics, . [DOI]
2021 García-Béjar B.; Owens R.A.; Briones A.; Arévalo-Villena M. (2021) 'Proteomic profiling and glycomic analysis of the yeast cell wall in strains with Aflatoxin B1 elimination ability'. Environmental Microbiology, . [DOI] [Full-Text]
2021 Felice V.D.; Owens R.A.; Kennedy D.; Hogan S.A.; Lane J.A. (2021) 'Comparative structural and compositional analyses of cow, buffalo, goat and sheep cream'. Foods, 10 (11). [DOI] [Full-Text]
2021 Traynor A.M.; Owens R.A.; Coughlin C.M.; Holton M.C.; Jones G.W.; Calera J.A.; Doyle S. (2021) 'At the metal–metabolite interface in aspergillus fumigatus: Towards untangling the intersecting roles of zinc and gliotoxin'. Microbiology - Society for General Microbiology, 167 (11). [DOI] [Full-Text]
2020 Ries LNA; Pardeshi L; Dong Z; Tan K; Steenwyk JL; Colabardini AC; Ferreira Filho JA; de Castro PA; Silva LP; Preite NW; Almeida F; de Assis LJ; Dos Santos RAC; Bowyer P; Bromley M; Owens RA; Doyle S; Demasi M; Hernández DCR; Netto LES; Pupo MT; Rokas A; Loures FV; Wong KH; Goldman GH; (2020) 'The Aspergillus fumigatus transcription factor RglT is important for gliotoxin biosynthesis and self-protection, and virulence'. PLoS Pathogens, 16 (7). [DOI] [Full-Text]
2020 Garcia-Bejar, B; Owens, RA; Briones, A; Arevalo-Villena, M (2020) 'Differential distribution and proteomic response ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaeand non-model yeast species to zinc'. Environmental Microbiology, . [DOI] [Full-Text]
2020 O'Connor E.; Owens R.A.; Doyle S.; Amini A.; Grogan H.; Fitzpatrick D.A. (2020) 'Proteomic investigation of interhyphal interactions between strains of Agaricus bisporus'. Fungal Biology, 124 (6):579-591. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2020 Scott, J; Sueiro-Olivares, M; Thornton, BP; Owens, RA; Muhamadali, H; Fortune-Grant, R; Thomson, D; Thomas, R; Hollywood, K; Doyle, S; Goodacre, R; Tabernero, L; Bignell, E; Amich, J (2020) 'Targeting Methionine Synthase in a Fungal Pathogen Causes a Metabolic Imbalance That Impacts Cell Energetics, Growth, and Virulence'. mBio, 11 . [DOI] [Full-Text]
2020 McGowan J.; O’hanlon R.; Owens R.A.; Fitzpatrick D.A. (2020) 'Comparative genomic and proteomic analyses of three widespread phytophthora species: Phytophthora chlamydospora, phytophthora gonapodyides and phytophthora pseudosyringae'. Microorganisms, 8 (5). [DOI] [Full-Text]
2019 Hartley CJ; Lillis PE; Owens RA; Griffin CT; (2019) 'Infective juveniles of entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema and Heterorhabditis) secrete ascarosides and respond to interspecific dispersal signals'. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, . [DOI] [Full-Text]
2019 Morrin S.; Owens R.; Le Berre M.; Gerlach J.; Joshi L.; Bode L.; Irwin J.; Hickey R. (2019) 'Interrogation of Milk-Driven Changes to the Proteome of Intestinal Epithelial Cells by Integrated Proteomics and Glycomics'. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 67 (7):1902-1917. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2019 Delgado J; Núñez F; Asensio MA; Owens RA; (2019) 'Quantitative proteomic profiling of ochratoxin A repression in Penicillium nordicum by protective cultures'. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 305 . [DOI] [Full-Text]
2018 Saleh A.; Jones G.; Tinley F.; Delaney S.; Alabbadi S.; Fenlon K.; Doyle S.; Owens R. (2018) 'Systems impact of zinc chelation by the epipolythiodioxopiperazine dithiol gliotoxin in: Aspergillus fumigatus: A new direction in natural product functionality'. Metallomics, 10 (6):854-866. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2018 Cullen L.; O’Connor A.; McCormack S.; Owens R.; Holt G.; Collins C.; Callaghan M.; Doyle S.; Smith D.; Schaffer K.; Fitzpatrick D.; McClean S. (2018) 'The involvement of the low-oxygen-activated locus of Burkholderia cenocepacia in adaptation during cystic fibrosis infection'. Scientific Reports, 8 (1). [DOI] [Full-Text]
2017 Dolan S.K, Bock, T., Hering, V., Owens, R.A., Jones, G.W., Blankenfeldt W., Doyle S. (2017) 'Structural, mechanistic and functional insight into gliotoxin bis-thiomethylation in Aspergillus fumigatus'. Open Biology, 7 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2017 Collins C; Hurley R; Almutlaqah N; O'Keeffe G; Keane TM; Fitzpatrick DA; Owens RA; (2017) 'Proteomic Characterization of Armillaria mellea Reveals Oxidative Stress Response Mechanisms and Altered Secondary Metabolism Profiles'. Microorganisms, 5 (3). [DOI] [Full-Text]
2017 Mulvihill E.; Moloney N.; Owens R.; Dolan S.; Russell L.; Doyle S. (2017) 'Functional investigation of iron-responsive microsomal proteins, including MirC, in Aspergillus fumigatus'. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8 (MAR). [DOI] [Full-Text]
2017 Delgado J.; Owens R.; Doyle S.; Núñez F.; Asensio M. (2017) 'Quantitative proteomics reveals new insights into calcium-mediated resistance mechanisms in Aspergillus flavus against the antifungal protein PgAFP in cheese'. Food Microbiology, 66 :1-10. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2016 Moloney, NM*; Owens, RA*; Meleady, P; Henry, M; Dolan, SK; Mulvihill, E; Clynes, M; Doyle, S (2016) 'The iron-responsive microsomal proteome of Aspergillus fumigatus'. JOURNAL OF PROTEOMICS, 136 :99-111. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2016 Delgado J; Owens RA; Doyle S; Asensio MA; Núñez F; (2016) 'Antifungal proteins from moulds: analytical tools and potential application to dry-ripened foods'. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 100 (16):6991-6700. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2016 Moloney NM; Owens RA; Doyle S; (2016) 'Proteomic analysis of Aspergillus fumigatus - clinical implications'. Expert Review of Proteomics, . [DOI]
2016 Delgado, J; Owens, RA; Doyle, S; Asensio, MA; Núñez, F (2016) 'Increased chitin biosynthesis contributes to the resistance of Penicillium polonicum against the antifungal protein PgAFP'. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 100 (1):371-383. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2015 Delgado, J; Owens, RA; Doyle, S; Asensio, MA; Nunez, F (2015) 'Impact of the antifungal protein PgAFP from Penicillium chrysogenum on the protein profile in Aspergillus flavus'. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 99 :8701-8715. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2015 Fagan S.; Owens R.; Ward P.; Connolly C.; Doyle S.; Murphy R. (2015) 'Biochemical Comparison of Commercial Selenium Yeast Preparations'. Biological Trace Element Research, . [DOI] [Full-Text]
2015 Owens, RA; O'Keeffe, G; Smith, EB; Dolan, SK; Hammel, S; Sheridan, KJ; Fitzpatrick, DA; Keane, TM; Jones, GW; Doyle, S (2015) 'Interplay between Gliotoxin Resistance, Secretion, and the Methyl/Methionine Cycle in Aspergillus fumigatus'. Eukaryotic Cell, 14 :941-957. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2014 Owens, RA; Hammel, S; Sheridan, KJ; Jones, GW; Doyle, S (2014) 'A Proteomic Approach to Investigating Gene Cluster Expression and Secondary Metabolite Functionality in Aspergillus fumigatus'. PLoS ONE, 9 . [DOI] [Full-Text]
2014 O'Keeffe, G; Hammel, S; Owens, RA; Keane, TM; Fitzpatrick, DA; Jones, GW; Doyle, S (2014) 'RNA-seq reveals the pan-transcriptomic impact of attenuating the gliotoxin self-protection mechanism in Aspergillus fumigatus'. BMC Genomics, 15 . [DOI] [Full-Text]
2014 Dolan, SK; Owens, RA; O'Keeffe, G; Hammel, S; Fitzpatrick, DA; Jones, GW; Doyle, S (2014) 'Regulation of Nonribosomal Peptide Synthesis: bis-Thiomethylation Attenuates Gliotoxin Biosynthesis in Aspergillus fumigatus'. Chemistry and Biology, 21 :999-1012. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2012 Gallagher, L; Owens, RA; Dolan, SK; O'Keeffe, G; Schrettl, M; Kavanagh, K; Jones, GW; Doyle, S (2012) 'The Aspergillus fumigatus Protein GliK Protects against Oxidative Stress and Is Essential for Gliotoxin Biosynthesis'. Eukaryotic Cell, 11 :1226-1238. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2012 O'Hanlon, KA; Margison, GP; Hatch, A; Fitzpatrick, DA; Owens, RA; Doyle, S; Jones, GW (2012) 'Molecular characterization of an adaptive response to alkylating agents in the opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus'. Nucleic Acids Research, 40 :7806-7820. [DOI] [Full-Text]

Conference Contribution

Year Publication
2015 Cullen, L; Owens, R; Callaghan, M; Doyle, S; Schaffer, K; McClean, S (2015) The 29th Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference Chronic Burkholderia cenocepacia infection in cystic fibrosis: an analysis of the adaptations in sequential isolates from two patients Phoenix, AZ, .
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2025) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Committees

Committee Function From / To
Irish Fungal Society Treasurer 22/06/2023 -
Microbiology Society Irish Division Committee Member 01/01/2023 -

Current Students

Student Name Degree Supervision
MS M. BELLEW RESEARCH PH.D. (10)
MS N. SHARMA RESEARCH PH.D. (10)
MS O. COONEY RESEARCH PH.D. (10)