Staff Profile

Education

1987-1990     BSc Hons Class I, Biochemistry, University of Wales

1990-1993     PhD, Newcastle University. Supervisor Prof Steve Yeaman.

Appointments

1994-1995   Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Massachusetts Medical Centre, USA, advisor Prof Craig Peterson

1995-1998    Leukaemia Society of America Fellow, Newcastle University 

1998-2000    Postdoctoral Fellow Newcastle University, advisor Prof Brian Morgan

2000-2004    MRC Career Development Fellow Newcastle University 

2004-2008    Lecturer, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University

2008-2014    Reader in Molecular Biology, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University

2014-            Professor of Eukaryotic Microbiology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University

Google Scholar:

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Research Interests

My laboratory’s primary research focus is on stress-sensing and signalling mechanisms in human pathogenic fungi and their importance in virulence. We study a range of pathogenic Candida spp. including Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Candida auris. In particular, we are interested in the role of the evolutionarily conserved stress-activated MAPK pathways in promoting fungal virulence, and the diverse mechanisms employed by fungal pathogens to survive the arsenal of antimicrobial agents generated by innate immune cells. Recently, we have embarked on a project studying bacterial-imposed antifungal stresses. Specifically we are deciphering the mode of action of anti-fungal effectors elicited by the Type VI secretion system - which is widely used by bacteria to fire diverse effector proteins into neighbouring target cells.  As bacterial and fungal species co-exist in the human microbiota and disease-causing infections, we envisage that anti-fungal T6SSs will shape many diverse microbial communities relevant to human health. Finally, we are also exploiting our knowledge of fungal stress responses to design and perform high throughput screens for compounds that inhibit these vital virulence traits.

Please see publications tab for our recent publications.

Informal enquiries from prospective graduate students and post-docs are welcome at any time.

Current Funding

Wellcome Trust Strategic Award in Medical Mycology and Fungal Immunology https://www.abdn.ac.uk/mmfi/

BBSRC Project Grants https://bbsrc.ukri.org/research/grants-search/AwardDetails/?FundingReference=BB%2fP020119%2f1

Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award ‘Targeting a new kingdom: the nature and significance of Type VI secretion system-mediated anti-fungal activity’

Current Lab Members

Dr Alison Day (BBSRC funded)

Dr Katharina Trunk (Wellcome Trust funded)

Ms Yasmin Ahmed (BBSRC-DTP student)

Ms Ashleigh Watson (Faculty funded PhD student)

Ms Michelle Wray (Technician, Wellcome Trust/BBSRC funded)

Recent Public Engagement Activities

Newcastle Pint of Science 2018

https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/the-world-of-microbes-and-fungi

Newcastle Soapbox Science 2017

Soapbox Science highlights video:  http://www.voicenorth.org/news-blogs/2017/august/soapbox-science-newcastle-2017-highlights-video/

Soapbox Science Newcastle 2017 – Meet the Scientists: https://vimeo.com/233902250

Royal Society Summer Exhibition 2016 – Killer Fungus!

https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2016/summer-science-exhibition/exhibits/killer-fungus/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kupt17rbaIA

BGM2002 - Biochemistry and Genetics of Signalling and the Cell Cycle

BMS3007- Research in Biomedical Sciences

MIC3046- Microbiota and Pathogens: Mucosal Microbiota, Protozoa and Fungi

• Articles

  • Day AM, Cao M, da Silva Dantas A, Ianieva O, Herrero-de-Dios C, Brown AJP, Quinn J. Stress contingent changes in Hog1 pathway architecture and regulation in Candida albicans. PLoS Pathogens 2025.
  • Stewart LJ, Hong Y, Holmes IR, Firth SJ, Ahmed Y, Quinn J, Santos Y, Cobb SL, Jakubovics NS, Djoko KY. Salivary Antimicrobial Peptide Histatin-5 Does Not Display Zn(II)-Dependent or -Independent Activity against Streptococci. ACS Infectious Diseases 2023, 9(3), 631–642.
  • Ahmed Y, Ikeh MAC, MacCallum DM, Day AM, Waldron K, Quinn J. Blocking Polyphosphate Mobilization Inhibits Pho4 Activation and Virulence in the Pathogen Candida albicans. mBio 2022, 13(3), e00342-22.
  • Trunk K, Peltier J, Liu Y-C, Dill BD, Walker L, Gow NAR, Stark MJR, Quinn J, Strahl H, Trost M, Coulthurst SJ. The type VI secretion system deploys antifungal effectors against microbial competitors. Nature Microbiology 2018, 3, 920-931.
  • Herrero-de-Dios C, Day AM, Tillmann AT, Kastora SL, Stead D, Salgado PS, Quinn J, Brown AJP. Redox Regulation, Rather than Stress-Induced Phosphorylation, of a Hog1 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Modulates Its Nitrosative-Stress-Specific Outputs. mBio 2018, 9(2), e02229-17.
  • Rzechonek DA, Day AM, Quinn J, Mironczuk AM. Influence of ylHog1 MAPK kinase on Yarrowia lipolytica stress response and erythritol production. Scientific Reports 2018, 8(1), 14735.
  • Day AM, NcNiff MM, da Silva Dantas A, Gow NAR, Quinn J. Hog1 Regulates Stress Tolerance and Virulence in the Emerging Fungal Pathogen Candida auris. mSphere 2018, 3(5), e00506-18.
  • Day AM, Herrero-de-Dios CM, MacCallum DM, Brown AJP, Quinn J. Stress-induced nuclear accumulation is dispensable for Hog1-dependent gene expression and virulence in a fungal pathogen. Scientific Reports 2017, 7, 14340.
  • Brown AJP, Cowen LE, Di Pietro A, Quinn J. Stress adaptation. Microbiology Spectrum 2017, 5(4), FUNK-0048-2016.
  • Pradhan A, Herrero-de-Dios C, Belmonte R, Budge S, Lopez-Garcia A, Kolmogorova A, Lee KK, Martin BD, Ribeiro A, Bebes A, Yuecel R, Gow NAR, Munro CA, MacCallum DM, Quinn J, Brown AJP. Elevated catalase expression in a fungal pathogen is a double-edged sword of iron. PLoS Pathogens 2017, 13(5), e1006405.
  • Day AM, Smith DA, Ikeh MAC, Haider M, Herrero-de-Dios CM, Brown AJP, Morgan BAM, Erwig LP, MacCallum DM, Quinn J. Blocking two-component signalling enhances Candida albicans virulence and reveals adaptive mechanisms that counteract sustained SAPK activation. PLoS Pathogens 2017, 13(1), e1006131.
  • Ikeh MA, Kastora SL, Day AM, Herrero-de-Dios CM, Tarrant E, Waldron KJ, Banks AP, Bain JM, Lydall D, Veal EA, MacCallum DM, Erwig LP, Brown AJ, Quinn J. Pho4 mediates phosphate acquisition in Candida albicans and is vital for stress resistance and metal homeostasis. Molecular Biology of the Cell 2016, 27(17), 2784-2801.
  • Kos I, Patterson MJ, Znaidi S, Kaloriti D, da Silva Dantas A, Herrero-de-Dios C, d'Enfert C, Brown AJP, Quinn J. Mechanisms underlying the delayed activation of the Cap1 transcription factor in Candida albicans following combinatorial oxidative and cationic stress important for phagocytic potency. mBio 2016, 7(2), e00331-16.
  • Komalapriya C, Kaloriti D, Tillmann AT, Yin ZK, Herrero-de-Dios C, Jacobsen MD, Belmonte RC, Cameron G, Haynes K, Grebogi C, de Moura APS, Gow NAR, Thiel M, Quinn J, Brown AJP, Romano MC. Integrative Model of Oxidative Stress Adaptation in the Fungal Pathogen Candida albicans. PLOS ONE 2015, 10(9), e0137750.
  • Kaloriti D, Jacobsen M, Yin ZK, Patterson M, Tillmann A, Smith DA, Cook E, You T, Grimm MJ, Bohovych I, Grebogi C, Segal BH, Gow NAR, Haynes K, Quinn J, Brown AJP. Mechanisms Underlying the Exquisite Sensitivity of Candida albicans to Combinatorial Cationic and Oxidative Stress That Enhances the Potent Fungicidal Activity of Phagocytes. MBIO 2014, 5(4), e01334-14.
  • Patterson M, McKenzie C, Smith D, da Silva Dantas A, Sherston S, Veal EA, Morgan B, MacCallum D, Erwig LP, Quinn J. Ybp1 and Gpx3 Signaling in Candida albicans Govern Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidation of the Cap1 Transcription Factor and Macrophage Escape. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling 2013, 19(18), 2244-2260.
  • Bain JM, Lewis LE, Okai B, Quinn J, Gow NAR, Erwig LP. Non-lytic expulsion/exocytosis of Candida albicans from macrophages. Fungal Genetics and Biology 2012, 49(9), 677-678.
  • Mukhopadhyay A, Plummer ER, Elattar A, Soohoo S, Uzir B, Quinn JE, McCluggage WG, Maxwell P, Aneke H, Curtin NJ, Edmondson RJ. Clinicopathological Features of Homologous Recombination-Deficient Epithelial Ovarian Cancers: Sensitivity to PARP Inhibitors, Platinum, and Survival. Cancer Research 2012, 72(22), 5675-5682.
  • Quinn J, Malakasi P, Smith DA, Cheetham J, Buck V, Millar J, Morgan BA. Two-component mediated peroxide sensing and signal transduction in fission yeast. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling 2011, 15(1), 153-165.
  • Cheetham J, MacCallum DM, Doris KS, Dantas A, Scorfield S, Odds F, Smith DA, Quinn J. MAPKKK-independent Regulation of the Hog1 Stress-activated Protein Kinase in Candida albicans. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2011, 286(49), 42002-42016.
  • Bruce CR, Smith DA, Rodgers D, Dantas AD, MacCallum DM, Morgan BA, Quinn J. Identification of a Novel Response Regulator, Crr1, That Is Required for Hydrogen Peroxide Resistance in Candida albicans. PLoS One 2011, 6(12), e27979.
  • da Silva Dantas A, Patterson MJ, Smith DA, MacCallum DM, Erwig LP, Morgan BA, Quinn J. Thioredoxin regulates multiple hydrogen peroxide-induced signaling pathways in Candida albicans. Molecular and Cellular Biology 2010, 30(19), 4550-4563.
  • Nikolaou E, Agrafioti I, Stumpf M, Quinn J, Stansfield I, Brown AJP. Phylogenetic diversity of stress signalling pathways in fungi. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2009, 9(1), 44.
  • Enjalbert B, Moran GP, Vaughan C, Yeomans T, MacCallum DM, Quinn J, Coleman DC, Brown AJP, Sullivan DJ. Genome-wide gene expression profiling and a forward genetic screen show that differential expression of the sodium ion transporter Ena21 contributes to the differential tolerance of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis to osmotic stress. Molecular Microbiology 2009, 72(1), 216-228.
  • Butler G, Rasmussen MD, Lin MF, Santos MAS, Sakthikumar S, Munro CA, Rheinbay E, Grabherr M, Forche A, Reedy JL, Agrafioti I, Arnaud MB, Bates S, Brown AJP, Brunke S, Costanzo MC, Fitzpatrick DA, de Groot PWJ, Harris D, Hoyer LL, Hube B, Klis FM, Kodira C, Lennard N, Logue ME, Martin R, Neiman AM, Nikolaou E, Quail MA, Quinn J, Santos MC, Schmitzberger FF, Sherlock G, Shah P, Silverstein KAT, Skrzypek MS, Soll D, Staggs R, Stansfield I, Stumpf MPH, Sudbery PE, Srikantha T, Zeng QD, Berman J, Berriman M, Heitman J, Gow NAR, Lorenz MC, Birren BW, Kellis M, Cuomo CA. Evolution of pathogenicity and sexual reproduction in eight Candida genomes. Nature 2009, 459(7247), 657-662.
  • Yin ZK, Stead D, Walker J, Selway L, Smith DA, Brown AJP, Quinn J. A proteomic analysis of the salt, cadmium and peroxide stress responses in Candida albicans and the role of the Hog1 stress-activated MAPK in regulating the stress-induced proteome. Proteomics 2009, 9(20), 4686-4703.
  • Cheetham J, Smith DA, da Silva Dantas A, Doris KS, Patterson MJ, Bruce CR, Quinn J. A single MAPKKK regulates the Hog1 MAPK pathway in the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. Molecular Biology of the Cell 2007, 18(11), 4603-4614.
  • Enjalbert B, Smith DA, Cornell MJ, Alam I, Nicholls S, Brown AJP, Quinn J. Role of the Hog1 stress-activated protein kinase in the global transcriptional response to stress in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Molecular Biology of the Cell 2006, 17(2), 1018-1032.
  • Smith DA, Nicholls S, Morgan BA, Brown AJP, Quinn J. A conserved stress-activated protein kinase regulates a core stress response in the human pathogen Candida albicans. Molecular Biology of the Cell 2004, 15(9), 4179-4190.
  • Veal EA, Findlay VJ, Day AM, Bozonet SM, Evans JM, Quinn J, Morgan BA. A 2-Cys peroxiredoxin regulates peroxide-induced oxidation and activation of a stress-activated MAP kinase. Molecular Cell 2004, 15(1), 129-139.
  • Smith DA, Mark Toone W, Chen D, Bahler J, Jones N, Morgan BA, Quinn J. The Srk1 protein kinase is a target for the Sty1 stress-activated MAPK in fission yeast. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2002, 277(36), 33411-33421.
  • Quinn J, Findlay VJ, Dawson K, Millar JB, Jones N, Morgan BA, Toone WM. Distinct Regulatory Proteins Control the Graded Transcriptional Response to Increasing H₂O₂ Levels in Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Molecular Biology of the Cell 2002, 13(3), 805-816.
  • Buck V, Quinn J, Pino TS, Martin H, Saldanha J, Makino K, Morgan BA, Millar JBA. Peroxide sensors for the fission yeast stress-activated mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Molecular Biology of the Cell 2001, 12(2), 407-419.
  • Gong X, Peng T, Yakhnin A, Zolkiewski M, Quinn J, Yeaman SJ, Roche TE. Specificity determinants for the pyruvate dehydrogenase component reaction mapped with mutated and prosthetic group modified lipoyl domains. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2000, 275(18), 13645-13653.
  • Palmer JM, Jones DEJ, Quinn J, McHugh A, Yeaman SJ. Characterization of the autoantibody responses to recombinant E3 binding protein (protein X) of pyruvate dehydrogenase in primary biliary cirrhosis. Hepatology 1999, 30(1), 21-26.
  • Quinn, J., Fyrberg, A.M., Ganster, R.W., Schmidt, M.C. & Peterson, C.L. DNA-binding properties of the yeast SWI/SNF complex. Nature 1996, 379, 844-847.
  • Cote, J., Quinn, J., Workman, J.L. & Peterson, C.L (1994). Stimulation of GAL4 derivative binding to nucleosomal DNA by the yeast SWI/SNF complex. Science 1994, 265, 53-60.

• Book Chapter

  • Quinn, J. & Peterson, C.L. Mechanisms for alleviating chromatin-mediated repression of transcription. In: Roel van Driel and Arie P. Otte, ed. Nuclear Organization, Chromatin Structure and Gene Expression. Oxford University Press, 1998, pp.58-79.

• Reviews

  • Fisher MC, Burnett F, Chandler C, Gow NAR, Gurr S, Hart A, Holmes A, May RC, Quinn J, Soliman T, Talbot NJ, West HM, West JS, White PL, Bromley M, Armstrong-James D. A one health roadmap towards understanding and mitigating emerging Fungal Antimicrobial Resistance: fAMR. npj Antimicrobial Resistance 2024, 2, 36.
  • Day AM, Quinn J. Stress-Activated Protein Kinases in Human Fungal Pathogens. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 2019, 9(261).
  • Trunk KT, Coulthurst SJ, Quinn J. A New Front in Microbial Warfare—Delivery of Antifungal Effectors by the Type VI Secretion System. Journal of Fungi 2019, 5(2), 50.
  • Ikeh M, Ahmed Y, Quinn J. Phosphate Acquisition and Virulence in Human Fungal Pathogens. Microorganisms 2017, 5(3), 48.
  • Dantas AS, Day A, Ikeh M, Kos I, Achan B, Quinn J. Oxidative stress responses in the human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans. Biomolecules 2015, 5(1), 142-165.
  • Smith DA, Morgan BA, Quinn J. Stress signalling to fungal stress-activated protein kinase pathways. FEMS Microbiology Letters 2010, 306(1), 1-8.
  • Brown AJP, Haynes K, Quinn J. Nitrosative and oxidative stress responses in fungal pathogenicity. Current Opinion in Microbiology 2009, 12(4), 384-391.