Dr. Mary O Riordan

Biography

Mary O'Riordan is the Frederick C. Neidhardt Collegiate Professor in the University of Michigan Medical School's Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Her research focuses on the interaction between bacterial pathogens and host cells, specifically how mammalian cellular stress signaling influences the transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming of the innate immune response. She aims to understand the mechanisms of innate immune signaling and inflammation, which underlie effective defense against microbial infections. Her work explores how dysregulated responses can lead to autoimmunity and chronic inflammatory diseases. O'Riordan investigates the stress response pathways activated by various bacterial pathogens, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica. By studying macrophages, neutrophils, and epithelial cells, her lab seeks to clarify how cellular structures and organization contribute to robust inflammatory responses, antimicrobial defenses, and metabolic adaptation.

Research Interests