Lecturer in Microbiology

Dr Taiwo Shittu has been a Lecturer in Microbiology within the School of Life Sciences since early 2022, having previously held different positions at the University of Bedfordshire. These roles include; completing his MSc, PhD, post-doc research and acting as a Laboratory Technician.

Taiwo's research has led to the development of new knowledge and resources allied to the genetic diversity and genomic architecture of a globally important pathogens such as Magnaporthe oryzae and Fusarium proliferatum, which affects key food security crops such as rice, finger millet and wheat. His work has led to the establishment of approximately 400 fungal pathogen isolates, the identification and development of novel molecular markers, alongside diagnostic technologies, and bioinformatic pipelines for genome annotation and comparative analysis.

Outside of his research, Taiwo teaches across many undergraduate courses, delivering sessions related to microbiology, molecular genetics, cell biology, food security and their impact on health and environment. Currently, he is the Unit Co-ordinator for Food and Environmental Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, Applied Plant Sciences, Ecology and Evolution, and Environmental Change.

Taiwo is a member of the Royal Society of Biology, British Society for Plant Pathology, International Society for Plant Pathology, and Microbiology Society.

Teaching Areas

• Food and Environmental Microbiology
• Molecular Genetics
• Ecology and Evolution
• Applied Plant Sciences

Qualifications

• PhD in Microbial Molecular Genetics (Global Food Security), University of Bedfordshire.
• MSc in Biotechnology, University of Bedfordshire.
• Bachelor of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Nigeria.

Memberships

• The Royal Society of Biology, UK
• British Society for Plant Pathology, UK
• American Phytopathological Society, USA
• Microbiology Society, UK

Research Interests

Taiwo’s research experience and interests are mainly focused on microbes and their impact on food, health, and the environment. With specific expertise in microbial molecular genetics and the development of diagnostic markers applied in the context of global food security.

Publications

• Cauz‐Santos, L. A., Dodsworth, S., Samuel, R., Christenhusz, M. J., Patel, D., Shittu, T., et al (2022). Genomic insights into recent species divergence in Nicotiana benthamiana and natural variation in Rdr1 gene controlling viral susceptibility. The Plant Journal, 111(1):7-18.

• Patel, D., Shittu, T.A., Baroncelli, R., Muthumeenakshi, S., Osborne, T.H., Janganan, T.K., and Sreenivasaprasad, S. (2021). Genome sequence of the Biocontrol Agent Coniothyrium minitans strain Conio (IMI 134523). Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 34(2):222-225.

• Almiman, B. F., Shittu, T.A., Muthumeenakshi, S., Baroncelli, R., and Sreenivasaprasad, S. (2018). Genome sequence of the mycotoxigenic crop pathogen Fusarium proliferatum strain ITEM 2341 from date palm. Microbiology Resource Announcements, 7(9):e00964-18.

Contact Details

T: +44 (0)1582 287479 ext. 3203
E: taiwoadewale.shittu@beds.ac.uk

Other References

LinkedIn
ResearchGate