Dr. Thilina Herath

(Aliases: Thilina U.B. Herath, T.U.B. Herath, Thilina Herath)

Senior Lecturer ( Grade -II )

Department of Animal Science,
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna,
Mapalana, Kamburupitiya,
Sri Lanka 81100

Research Interests

Qualifications

PhD in Microbiology | University of Otago, New Zealand
MSc in Preventive Veterinary Medical Science | Chungnam National University, South Korea
BSc in Animal Science and Fisheries | University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Biography

Dr. Thilina Herath is a Senior Lecturer (Grade II) in the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna. He holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Otago, New Zealand, specializing in microbial pathogenesis of foodborne pathogens, an MSc in Preventive Veterinary Medical Science from Chungnam National University, South Korea, and a BSc in Animal Science and Fisheries from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. His research focuses on cellular microbiology, host-pathogen interactions and foodborne pathogens, with a particular interest in how bacterial pathogens exploit host cellular trafficking pathways.

Journal Publications

Total: 9

Weerawardhana, A.*, Herath, T. U.*, Gayan Chathuranga, W. A., Kim, T. H., Ekanayaka, P., Chathuranga, K., & Lee, J. S. (2024). SIAH1 modulates antiviral immune responses by targeting deubiquitinase USP19. Journal of Medical Virology, 96(3), e29523. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.29523

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Tijoriwalla, S., Liyanage, T., Herath, T. U., Lee, N., Rehman, A., Gianfelice, A., & Ireton, K. (2024). The host GTPase Dynamin 2 modulates apical junction structure to control cell-to-cell spread of Listeria monocytogenes. Infection and Immunity, 92(10), e00136-24. https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.00136-24

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Ireton, K., Gyanwali, G. C., Herath, T. U., & Lee, N. (2023). Exploitation of the host exocyst complex by bacterial pathogens. Molecular Microbiology, 123(1), 32-44. https://doi.org/10.1111/mmi.15034

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Gyanwali, G., Herath, T. U. B., Gianfelice, A., & Ireton, K. (2022). Listeria monocytogenes co-opts the host exocyst complex to promote Internalin A-mediated entry. Infection and Immunity, 90(12), e00326-00322. https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.00326-22

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Herath, T. U., Roy, A., Gianfelice, A., & Ireton, K. (2021). Shigella flexneri subverts host polarized exocytosis to enhance cell-to-cell spread. Molecular Microbiology, 116(5), 1328-1346. https://doi.org/10.1111/mmi.14827

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Ekanayaka, P.*, Lee, S. Y.*, Herath, T. U.*, Kim, J. H., Kim, T. H., Lee, H., Chathuranga, K., Chathuranga, W. G., Park, J. H., & Lee, J. S. (2020). Foot-and-mouth disease virus VP1 targets the MAVS to inhibit type-I interferon signaling, and VP1 E83K mutation results in virus attenuation. PLOS Pathogens, 16(11), e1009057. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1009057

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Weeratunga, P.*, Herath, T. U.*, Kim, T. H., Lee, H. C., Kim, J. H., Lee, B. H., Lee, E. S., Chathuranga, K., Chathuranga, W., & Yang, C.-S. (2017). Dense Granule Protein-7 (GRA-7) of Toxoplasma gondii inhibits viral replication in vitro and in vivo. Journal of Microbiology, 55(11), 909-917. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-017-7392-5

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Kim, T. H.*, Herath, T. U.*, Kim, J. H., Lee, K. N., Park, J. H., Kim, C. J., & Lee, J. S. (2017). Selection of model viruses for foot-and-mouth disease virus-related-experiments. Korean Journal of Microbiology, 53(4), 304-308. https://doi.org/10.7845/kjm.2017.7069

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Kim, J. H., Kim, T. H., Lee, H. C., Nikapitiya, C., Uddin, M. B., Park, M.-E., Pathinayake, P., Lee, E. S., Chathuranga, K., & Herath, T. U. (2017). Rubicon modulates antiviral type I interferon (IFN) signaling by targeting IFN regulatory factor 3 dimerization. Journal of Virology, 91(14), e00248-00217. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00248-17

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Conference Publications

Total: 7

Herath, T. U. B., Dahanayake, P., Gianfelice, G., Rehman, A., Deng, W., Finlay, B., & Ireton, K. (2025, November). Enteropathogenic E. coli subverts host exocytosis to promote pedestal formation. Poster session presented at the New Zealand Microbiological Society (NZMS) Annual Conference, Rotorua, New Zealand.

Herath, T. U. B., Dahanayake, P., & Ireton, K. (2025, February). Role of polarized exocytosis in infection of host cells by enteropathogenic E. coli. Poster session presented at the MWC Symposium and Emerging Researchers Showcase, Auckland, New Zealand.

Herath, T. U. B., Dahanayake, P., & Ireton, K. (2024, September). Role of polarized exocytosis in infection of host cells by enteropathogenic E. coli. Poster session presented at the Biomolecular Horizons 2024 Congress, Melbourne, Australia.

Herath, T. U. B., Roy, A., Gianfelice, A., & Ireton, K. (2022, August). Shigella flexneri subverts host polarized exocytosis to enhance cell-to-cell spread. Verbal presentation at the Microscopy Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Herath, T. U. B., Roy, A., Gianfelice, A., & Ireton, K. (2021). Shigella flexneri subverts host polarized exocytosis to enhance cell-to-cell spread. Poster session presented at the New Zealand Microbiological Society (NZMS) Annual Conference, held online.

Herath, T. U. B., & Ireton, K. (2019, November). Role of host-exocytosis in cell to cell spread of Shigella flexneri. Poster session presented at the Annual Biomedical Science Postgraduate Research Celebration, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Herath, T. U. B., Kim, T. H., Lee, H. C., Hewawaduge, C. Y., Lee, E. S., Chathuranga, K., Chathuranga, W. A. G., Yang, C. S., & Lee, J. S. (2017, June). Dense Granule Protein 7 of Toxoplasma Gondii Has Antiviral Activity in vitro and in vivo by Inducing Antiviral State. Poster session presented at the Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology Annual Meeting and International Symposium, Busan, South Korea.