CONTRIBUTOR

Alan Mullan is a Research Fellow at Queen's University Environmental Science and Technology Research Centre, Invest Northern Ireland - Centres of Excellence (QUESTOR Tools).

Research areas

The biochemical and molecular basis of polyphosphate accumulation by environmental microorganisms during growth at low pH.

Selected Publications

 • Aprea, G., Mullan, W.M.A., Mullan, A., Murru, N., Tozzi, M., Cortesi., M.L. (2005). Isolation of polyphosphate-accumulating lactic acid bacteria from natural whey starters. Milchwissenshaft 60, 256-258.

 • Mullan, A., McGrath J. W., and Quinn, J. P. (2005). Low pH-inducible polyphosphate accumulation: pilot-scale application to wastewater treatment of a previously unrecognized aspect of microbial phosphorus metabolism (submitted for publication).

 • Mullan, A., Quinn, J. P. and McGrath, J. W. (2002). A non-radioactive method for the assay of polyphosphate kinase activity and its application in the study of polyphosphate metabolism in Burkholderia cepacia.  Analytical Biochemistry 308, 294 - 299.

 • Mullan, A., Quinn J. P. and McGrath, J. W. (2002). Enhanced phosphate uptake and polyphosphate accumulation in Burkholderia cepacia grown under low pH conditions.  Microbial Ecology, 44 (1), 69-77.

 • Mullan, A., Quinn, J. P. and McGrath, J. W. (2002). Phosphate Removal from Wastewaters: A Novel Approach.  Chemical Engineering and Technology (Engineering in Life Sciences) 2, 63-66.

 • McGrath, J W, Cleary S, Mullan A, and Quinn, J. P. (2001).  Acid-stimulated phosphate uptake by activated sludge microorganisms under aerobic laboratory conditions. Water Research 35 (18) 4317 - 4322.

 • Mullan, A., Quinn, J. P. and McGrath, J. W. (2001).  Phosphate removal from wastewaters.  In Removal of Phosphorus and Recovery from Sludge (Horan N.J. ed.) Aqua Enviro Technology Transfer, Leeds, UK.

Presentations at International Conferences

  • MacCombe, D., Mullan, A., Quinn, J. P. and McGrath, J. W. (2005). The  Biological  Removal  of  Phosphate  from  Wastewaters: A  Pilot  Plant  Investigation  of a Novel Approach, SGM Irish Branch Meeting, Cork, Ireland.

 • Cooper, S. J., A. Mullan, A., McGrath, J. W. and Quinn, J. P. (2005). pH Dependent Phosphate Removal and Polyphosphate Accumulation by Wastewater Microorganisms. SGM Irish Branch Meeting, Cork, Ireland.

 • Mullan, A., McGrath, J. W. and Quinn, J. P. (2005). Low pH-inducible polyphosphate accumulation: pilot-scale application to wastewater treatment of a previously unrecognized aspect of microbial phosphorus metabolism. Society of General Microbiology Conference, Heriott Watt, Edinburgh, Scotland.

 • Moriarty, T. F., Mullan, A., McGrath, J. W., Quinn, J. P., Elborn, J. S. and Tunney, M.M.(2005) Burkholderia cepacia complex organisms accumulate inorganic polyphosphate at the acidic pH of the cystic fibrosis lung. Society of General Microbiology Conference, Heriott Watt, Edinburgh, Scotland.

 • Moriarty , T. F., Laverty, C, Mullan, A., McGrath, J. W., Elborn, J. S. and Tunney, M. M. (2005). Effect of pH on inorganic polyphosphate accumulation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia isolates from patients with cystic fibrosis. 27^th European Cystic Fibrosis Society, Birmingham, England.

 • Moriarty, T.F., Mullan, A., McGrath, J.W., Elborn, J.S. and Tunney, M.M. (2004). Inorganic polyphosphate accumulation under low pH conditions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from patients with cystic fibrosis. 155th Society for General Microbiology Dublin, Ireland.

 • MacCombe, D., Mullan, A., Cooper, S.J., Quinn, J.P. and McGrath, J.W. (2004). Low pH-induced polyphosphate accumulation in microorganisms. 10th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology, Cancun, Mexico.

 • MacCombe, D., Mullan, A., Cooper, S.J., Quinn, J.P. and J. W. McGrath (2004). Biological phosphate removal from wastewaters: 10th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology, Cancun, Mexico.

 • Mullan, A., Cooper, S. J., Quinn, J. P. and McGrath, J. W. (2004). Biological Phosphate Removal from Wastewaters: A Pilot Plant Study of a Novel Approach. IWA Young Researchers Conference, Southampton, England.

 • Cooper S. J, Mullan, A., McGrath, J. W. and Quinn, J. P. (2004). Low pH - Induced Phosphate Removal and Polyphosphate Accumulation In Wastewater Microorgansims. IWA Young Researchers Conference, Southampton, England.

 • Mullan, A., Cooper, S. J., Quinn J. P. and McGrath, J. W. (2003). Biological Biological phosphate removal from wastewaters: a pilot plant study. 11^th European Congress on Biotechnology, Basel, Switzerland.

 • Cooper, S. J., Mullan, A, McGrath, J. W. and Quinn, J. P (2003). Low pH-induced polyphosphate accumulation in environmental microorganisms. 11^th European Congress on Biotechnology, Basel, Switzerland.

 • Mullan, A., Quinn, J. P. and McGrath, J. W. (2001). 'Enhanced phosphate  removal and polyphosphate accumulation in Burkholderia cepacia AM19 during growth at low pH'. B3, Biodegradation, Biotransformation and Biocatalysis conference San Juan, Puerto Rico

Summary Curriculum Vitae

Education

1999-2003:            Ph.D. Queen's University Belfast (Microbiology)

1996-1999:            B.Sc.  (Hons) Queen's University Belfast (Microbiology)

Career History

2002-Present: Research Fellow Queen's University Environmental Science and Technology Research Centre, Invest Northern Ireland - Centres of Excellence (QUESTOR Tools)

Responsibilities include undertaking research on the biochemical and molecular basis of polyphosphate accumulation by environmental microorganisms during growth at low pH.

1999-2003. Ph.D, Queen's University Belfast.

Low pH-induced polyphosphate accumulation by environmental microorganisms and its application in biological phosphate removal.

1998(June-October). Golden Foods Ltd. N. Ireland.

Part of the quality assurance team for cheese and whey powder products. Major duties included the microbial and rheological analysis of Cheddar and Mozzarella cheese.

1997(June-October). Golden Foods Ltd. N. Ireland.

Employed as a research worker working on the impact of process parameters on the functional properties of whey protein concentrate powders. Other responsibilities included: supervision and training of staff on use of laboratory equipment, development and implementation of whey powder functionality testing protocol.

Contact Alan Mullan. Email:

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© Copyright July 2005. All rights reserved. W M A Mullan.
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