Professor (Reynolds) Paul Ross Ph.D., D.Sc. MRIA

Professional Experience

  • Head of Teagasc Food Research Programme (Moorepark/Ashtown Food Centres), Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland (July 2009 – present)
  • Senior Principal Research Officer , Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, UCC, Cork, Ireland (2001-present)
  • Other positions held at Teagasc Moorepark Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland, between 1993-2009: Head of Biotechnology Centre, Head of Dairy Quality Department.
  • Managing Director, Moorepark Technology Ltd., Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland (July 2009 – present)
  • Adjunct Professor, Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, UCC, Cork, Ireland. (2004-present).
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor (1993-present), Dept. of Biochemistry, Wake Forest University Medical Centre, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.

University Education and Training

  • 2009 - D.Sc. Degree on Published Work The NationalUniversity of Ireland
  • Ph.D. Microbiology (1984-1989) UniversityCollege, Cork – Under the joint supervision of Professors Seamus Condon and Fergal O’Gara. ‘Cloning and characterisation of the chromosomal genes from Lactococcus: nucleotide sequence of lactococcal thymidylate synthase gene and its use as a selectable genetic marker.’
  • B.Sc. (Hons) Microbiology/Biochemistry University College, Cork.

Research Interests

Food and Health Research particularly:

  • Antimicrobials and anti-infectives (applied and fundamental aspects)
  • Gut flora and gut health (how food programmes – gut flora and human health
  • Bacteriophage (phage therapy and phage hardening)
  • Human, animal and gut pathogens

Awards & Achievements

  • 2005 – Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre “Scientist of the Year”.
  • 2007 – Awarded “The William C. Haines Dairy Science Award” by California Dairy Research Foundation in recognition of accomplishments in Research and Development providing significant contributions to the Dairy Industry.
  • 2008 – Lifescience & Food Commercialisation Award Winner 2008 awarded by EnterpriseIreland.
  • 2010 - Awarded the International Dairy Federation’sElie Metchnikoff Prize in Microbiology.
  • Elected a member of The Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in May 2010 in recognition of his academic achievement.

Patents

  • R. Paul Ross, et al (1989) Marker genes for genetic manipulation. European Patent Application No: 90307140.5. US Patent Application No: 07/527.188.
  • R. Paul Ross, Mary Rea and M. Ryan (1997). U.S., Japanese, New Zealand, Australian and European Patent Applications for Bacteriocins. Patent/Standard No: PCT/IE96/00022 838.
  • R. Paul Ross and Colin Hill (1998). An antimicrobial effective against gram-positive pathogens. Patent/Standard No: 980499.
  • R. Paul Ross and Colin Hill (1998). A spray-dried bacteriocin powder with anti-microbial activity. Patent/Standard No: 980500.
  • Catherine Stanton and R. Paul Ross (1998). Process for the manufacture of probiotic cheese. Patent/Standard No: 980408.
  • Catherine Stanton and R. Paul Ross (2001). Biotechnological Production of CLA.
  • R. Paul Ross et al. (2005) Use of probiotic bacteria for the treatment of infection. Patent Application No: PCT/IE2004/000143
  • R. Paul Ross, et al (2005) Probiotic Composition Suitable for Animals. Patent Application No: PCT/IE2006/0025
  • R. Paul Ross, et al (2005) Antimicrobial Peptides and Bacterial Strains that Produce them. Patent Application No: S2005/0773
  • R. Paul Ross, et al (2006) Angiotensin-I-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory. Patent Application No: 2006/0136
  • R. Paul Ross, et al (2006) Recombinant Staphlococcal Phage Lysin as an Antibacterial Agent. Patent Application No: 2006/0488
  • R. Paul Ross, et al (2007) Modulation of Tissue Fatty Acid Composition of a Host by Human Gut Bacteria - CLA Patent. Official File No. 2007/0895.
  • R. Paul Ross, et al (2007) Thuricin CD an Antimicrobial for specifically targeting clostridium difficile. Patent filed November 2007.
  • R. Paul Ross, et al (2010) Pseudomonas aeruginose Bacteriophage(s) and uses thereof. Patent filed December 2010. EU Patent Application No: 10195995.

Other Information

  • Thesis Supervisor: 19 M.Sc., 36 Ph.D.
  • 300+ Research, Technical Papers and Book Chapters; 200+ Abstracts (300+ peer reviewed primary publications)

Selected Publications

  • Rosberg-Cody, E., C. Stanton, L. O’Mahony, R. Wall, F. Shanahan, E.M. Quigley, G.F. Fitzgerald and R.P. Ross. 2011. Recombinant lactobacilli expressing linoleic acid isomerise can modulate the fatty acid composition of host adipose tissue in mice. Microbiology. 2011 Feb:157(Pt 2):609-15.
  • Hennessy, A.A., R.P. Ross, R. Devery and C. Stanton. 2011. The health promoting properties of the conjugated isomers of α-Linolenic Lipids. 2011 Feb;46(2):105-19.
  • Rea, M.C., A. Dobson, O. O’Sullivan, F. Crispie, F. Fouhy, P.D. Cotter, F. Shanahan, B. Kiely, C. Hill and R.P. Ross. 2011. Microbes and Health Sackler Colloquium: Effect of broad- and narrow-spectrum antimicrobials on Clostridium difficile and microbial diversity in a model of the distal colon. Proc. Natl Acad Sci USA 2011 Mar 15;108 Suppl 1:4639-44
  • Sit, C.S., R.T. McKay, C. Hill, R.P. Ross and J.C. Vederas. 2011. The 3D structure of Thuricin Cd a two-component bacteriocin with cysteine sulphur to x-carbon cross links. J Am Chem Soc. 2011 May 25;133(20):7680-3.
  • Guinane, C.M., R.M. Kent, S. Norbery, C. Hill, G.F. Fitzgerald, C. Stanton and R.P. Ross. 2011. Host specific diversity in lactobacillus johnsonii as evidenced by a major chromosomal inversion and phage resistance mechanisms. PLoS One. 2011 6:4 e18740