Dr David Dowling

• BA (Mod) in Natural Science (1980) specialising in Microbiology from the University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin 2
• PhD in Microbiology [bacterial genetics] (1985) from NUI Galway

Head of School of Science, IT Carlow. 

Dr Dowling is also a director of a campus based unit (Microgen) that aims to apply the academic knowledge developed in the laboratory to the practical problems of clean-up of soil contaminants by bioremediation. A number of key local industries are now on the client list.

Research Experience

Postdoctoral scientist in Plant-microbe interactions at the Max Planck Institute Cologne, Germany 1984-85

Research Scientist and lecturer University of Geneva, Switzerland (1986-88)

EMBO  Research Fellow German Federal Institute of Biotechnology , Braunschweig Germany. (1989-1990)

Senior scientist and research manager, Department of Microbiology, University College Cork (1990-95)

Research Interests

Agribiotics Research
The aim of this research is to combine endophytic bacteria (non-pathogenic bacteria that occur naturally in plants) and/or rhizospheric bacteria (bacteria that live on or near the root surface)  with bio-energy plants to develop a range of specific, improved phytoremediation and phytoprotection systems as well as enhanced bio-energy crop growth rates.
For more details Agribiotics Web Page (http://agribiotics.itcarlow.ie/Index.html#Home)

Bioremediation of Waste
Recent areas of interest are investigations into microorganisms associated with plants found in constructed wetlands their metabolic and heavy metal resistant potential and their role
in the ability of such constructed wetlands to successfully deal with a range of organic and metal contaminated waste-waters. This project also investigates the removal of indicator micro-organisms in constructed wetland in use in Ireland. Research also focuses on the microbiology of bio-energy crops; pathogen fate and bioremediation enhancement and is carried out in association with Teagasc Oak Park.

Biodegradation of chlorinated aromatics
Bacterial glutathione S-transferases and degradation of environmental pollutants.

This work focuses on the identification of novel bacterial glutathione S-transferases in the environment using molecular biological and bioinformatic techniques. It also includes the biodegradation of PCBs and the development of biosensors for monitoring the bioavailability of these pollutants in soil.

Current Research Projects

Bacterial glutathione S-transferases and degradation of environmental pollutants.
This work focuses on the identification of novel bacterial glutathione S-transferases in the environment using molecular biological and bioinformatic techniques.

Integrated constructed wetlands and pathogen removal
Integrated constructed wetlands are artifical-made systems that can be designed for the treatment of polluted water.  This project investigates the removal of indicator micro-organisms in constructed wetland in use in Ireland.

Microbiology of bio-energy crops
The project focuses on the microbiology of bio-energy crops; pathogen fate and bioremediation enhancement and is carried outin association with Teagasc Oak Park.

Recent Publications
•  Rice O, Browne P, Chabbra, S., Miller,SH, Burke J, Dowling ,DN , Morrissey , JP, and O’Gara, F (2008)   Meeting the Challenges of sustainable agriculture. T-Research 3: 1. 26-28

•  Ryan,RP., Germaine, K., Franks, A., Ryan, DJ.,and Dowling,DN. (2008)  Bacterial endophytes: recent developments and applications. FEMS Microbiol, Lett.  278:1-9

•  Dowling, DN and Doty, S (2009) Improving Phytoremediation through Biotechnology. Current Opinion in Biotechnology 20 : 1-3.

•  Germaine, K., Keogh, E., Ryan, D and Dowling, DN (2009) Bacterial endophyte-mediated naphthalene phytoprotection and phytoremediation FEMS Microbiol, Lett.  296: 226-234

• Brennan, E., McGuinness, M and Dowling, DN (2009) Bioinformatic analysis and in vitro site-directed mutagenesis of conserved amino acids in BphKLB400, a specific bacterial glutathione transferase.  International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation (in Press)  [doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2009.03.008]

• McGuinness, M and Dowling, D. (2009) Plant-Associated Bacterial Degradation of Toxic Organic Compounds in Soil.   Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2009, 6, 2226-2247; doi:10.3390/ijerph6082226

• Coffey,L.,  Clarke, A., Duggan, P., Tambling, K., Horgan, S., Dowling,D.  and O’Reilly, C. (2009)  Isolation of identical nitrilase genes from multiple bacterial strains and real-time PCR detection of the genes from soils provides evidence of horizontal gene transfer. Archives in Microbiology  (in press)

• Browne P, Rice O, Miller,SH, Burke J, Dowling ,DN , Morrissey , JP, and O’Gara, F (2009) Superior inorganic phosphate solubilization is linked to phylogeny within the Pseudomonas fluorescens complex. Applied Soil Ecology (in press) . doi:10.1016/j.apsoil.2009.06.010