Matthew McCallum, University of Toronto

Research

Read how they describe their research on their University of Toronto profile.

Latest papers

TMPRSS2-mediated coronavirus spike activation and inhibition.
Nature structural & molecular biology · 2026 · first author
Separation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa type IV pilus-dependent twitching motility and surface-sensing responses
mBio · 2025
CryoEM map of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PilQ enables structural characterization of TsaP
Structure · 2021 · first author

8 publications.

01

TMPRSS2-mediated coronavirus spike activation and inhibition.

McCallum M, Case JB, Brown JT, Park YJ, Lee J, Sutherland E, Aggarwal A, Gibson C, Lempp FA, Stewart C, Tortorici MA, Sanapala S, Low JS, Asarnow D, Bohan D, Dellota E, Merz B, Chawla B, Kar S, Lanzavecchia A, Sallusto F, Riley NM, Turville S, Purcell L, Diamond MS, Veesler D

Nature structural & molecular biology2026First author

DOI: 10.1038/s41594-026-01801-y PMID: 42050172

02

Separation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa type IV pilus-dependent twitching motility and surface-sensing responses

Barnshaw R, Harvey H, McCallum M, Lazarou T, Nguyen S, Qaderi I, Tran V, Roberge N, Geiger C, O'Toole GA

mBio20258 citations

DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02521-25

03

CryoEM map of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PilQ enables structural characterization of TsaP

McCallum M, Tammam S, Rubinstein JL, Burrows LL, Howell PL

Structure202132 citationsFirst author

DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2020.11.019

04

A phage-encoded anti-activator inhibits quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Shah M, Taylor VL, Bona D, Tsao Y, Stanley SY, Pimentel-Elardo SM, McCallum M, Bondy-Denomy J, Howell PL, Nodwell JR, Davidson AR, Moraes TF, Maxwell KL

Molecular cell2021

DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.12.011 PMID: 33412111

05

The Dynamic Structures of the Type IV Pilus

McCallum M, Burrows LL, Howell PL

Microbiology Spectrum201983 citationsFirst author

DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.psib-0006-2018

06

Multiple conformations facilitate PilT function in the type IV pilus

McCallum M, Benlekbir S, Nguyen S, Tammam S, Rubinstein JL, Burrows LL, Howell PL

Nature Communications201932 citationsFirst authorOpen Access

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13070-z PMID: W4255615995

07

The molecular mechanism of the type IVa pilus motors

McCallum M, Tammam S, Khan A, Burrows LL, Howell PL

Nature Communications2017149 citationsFirst authorOpen Access

DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15091 PMID: W2949934346

08

PilN Binding Modulates the Structure and Binding Partners of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type IVa Pilus Protein PilM*

McCallum M, Tammam S, Little DJ, Robinson H, Koo J, Shah M, Calmettes C, Moraes TF, Burrows LL, Howell PL

Journal of Biological Chemistry201661 citationsFirst authorOpen Access

DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.718353 PMID: W2314274831

Frequent collaborators

Lori Burrows

Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences

6 shared papers, latest 2025

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mention

Subject: Prospective PhD student Dear Professor McCallum, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "TMPRSS2-mediated coronavirus spike activation and inhibition." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]