缅北禁地

 Education and qualifications:

10/1996 – 11/2000     D.Phil. (Physiological Sciences) at Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Supervisor: Prof. J. Errington           

10/1986 – 07/1989     BSc with Hons. (Bacteriology and Molecular Genetics) University of Bristol,

                                 Part II Supervisor: Dr. J Grinsted

Positions held: 

2010 -            Senior Lecturer, Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology 缅北禁地

2006 - 2009   Lecturer, ICaMB, University of 缅北禁地

2004 – 2006   University Research Lecturer, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, Oxford University

2000 – 2006   Consultant, Prolysis Ltd, Oxford

2000 – 2004   Senior Research assistant (RS II), Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, Oxford

                       University

1990 - 1999   Research Assistant, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, Oxford University

1989 – 1990   Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer, Dept. of Paediatrics, John Radcliffe Hospital, 

                       Oxford University

External Responsibilities

External examiner for Liverpool University

Internal Responsibilities:

Management of the CBCB Microscopy facility.

Member of the Bio Imaging committee for the Medical Faculty

Member of the Robotics committee for the Medical Faculty

Module lead for MMB2016 Master course

Current lab members: 

Dr. Ling J. Wu - Senior Research Associate and BBSRC funded Co-I

(/cbcb/staff/profile/ljwu.html#background)

Dr. Katsuya Fuchino - Newton International Fellowship

Post Graduate Students:

Areej Aljohani - SACB

Sahar Aljahdali - SACB

Marwa S. Ahmed - Egyptian funding

Muad Khalefah - SACB

Christodoulos Astriaos

G. Pupo - Visiting student from Milano Bicocca University Italy(2025)

Francesco Bucheri - Visiting student from l'Université de Namur, Belgium (2025)

Previous member of the research group:

R. Emmins - PDRA (2007-2010)

A. Guyet - PDRA ( 2011-2023)

M. Duchene - Erasmus student (2011)

D. Wolf - MC visiting fellowship (2010)

A. Gronwewold- Erasmus student (2012)

G. Henriques - MC visiting fellowship (2014)

E. Lauwers - Erasmus student (2016)

L. Keller - Erasmus student (2018)

R. Du - Visiting student from Hong Kong (2019)

Y. Wade - visiting MC fellow from Bath University (2019)

R. Warneke - Visiting student from Goettingen, Germany (2023)

M. Rauf - IRSIP Program, HEC, Pakistan (2024)

Directly supervised PhD students:

M. Xu - PhD student completed 2008

P. Gamba - PhD completed 2010 - Charles River Laboratories

K. Sidiq - PhD completed 2016 - Assistant Professor (Charmo University, Iraq)

J. Sassine - PhD completed 2018 - now at Oxford Nanopore Technologies

F. Alatawi - PhD completed 2020 - Associate Professor (University Tabuk, SA)

M. Chow - PhD completed 2022

G. Goldsmith - PhD completed 2022 - working as a medical writer

A. Aljohani - PhD completed 2024 - now Bacterial Vaccine Evaluation and Development Manager, Saudi National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program (NLFDP)

Y. Alanazi - PhD completed 2025 (SACB funded)

A. Alofi - PhD completed 2025 (SACB funded)

VACANCIES - I am always open to informal enquiries for PhD or Post-doctoral positions in this lab, and often find a way to fund good candidates. Please feel free to email me if you are interested (Richard.Daniel@ncl.ac.uk ). 

The laboratory is based in the Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, part of the Bioscience Institute of 缅北禁地 (NUBI).

 Research Interests.

A bacterial cell as a gross simplification is sometimes described as a collection of enzymes and nucleic acid enclosed in a lipid bag. In reality this is far from the truth, the bacterial cell has levels of organisation and complexity comparable to higher organisms, but due the difference in scale these properties were invisible. Recent advances in imaging techniques are just beginning to reveal these complexities that at almost at the limit of resolution for light microscopy and invisible to electron microscopy. Characterising and understanding the processes that generate and maintain this organisation represents the next challenge. 

Research in this lab predominantly utilises the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis as a model system, but may also use Listeria spp. Corynebacterium glutamicum, Staph. aureus and Strep. pneumonia / Enterococcus faecium for comparison due to their interesting morphological diversity. To support this work we are able to utilise a wide range of techniques most of which are available in the Centre.

Currently the main areas of research are focused on:-

 The physical properties of the cell envelope of Bacillus subtilis:

The interface the bacterial cell and its environment has an intricate role in biology. It must permit the selective passage of material too and from the cell membrane, but be structurally robust enough to prevent osmotic lysis of the cell, the entry of large toxic molecules and repel the attacks of enzymes and bacteriophages. However it must also be capable for dynamic remodelling to allow the enlargement and division of the cell. Thus an understanding of the composition of the cell wall and the roles of the individual components is critical.

Current projects: 

Determination of the composition of the cell wall and how it changes according to the phase of growth or environmental conditions. (M. Khalefah)

Design and characterisation of probes to investigate the bacterial cell wall and its basic physical properties as extracted sacculi as well as in vivo. (M. Khalefah)

Analysis of nutrient uptake systems (Areej Aljohani)

Bacterial cell wall biosynthesis:

Bacterial cell wall helps to maintain cell shape but most importantly it provides protection to the cells, and has been one of the targets for antibiotics. However, the mechanisms involved in cell wall biosynthesis are still poorly understood. Most of the analysis has been restricted to either the biosynthetic pathway required for synthesis of the major cell wall precursors (e.g. mur or mra genes) or the final steps of peptidoglycan synthesis (carried out by penicillin-binding proteins). Very little is known about the intermediate steps whereby the precursors are exported from the cytoplasm to the outside of the cell and incorporated into the existing structure to allow cell enlargement or division. Recent studies have provided evidence for specific complexes, (cytoskeletal structures) central to these events. However, the mechanism and the functional components of these complexes have yet to be clearly defined. Thus, there are many areas to explore, including peptidoglycan precursor export and incorporation, cell wall maturation and degradation, secondary polymer biosynthesis, export and incorporation (e.g. teichoic acids).

Current projects:

Defining the roles of specific PBPs in peptidoglycan synthesis and maturation (Yousef Alanazi)

Constructing strains with the minimum complement of enzymes necessary for normal growth and division (Yousef Alanazi and Amirah Alofi)

Understanding the mechanisms that coordinate peptidoglycan synthesis and degradation, to allow controlled growth and division (Alaa Aljohani)

Mechanisms altering gene expression in response to environmental conditions (Marwa Ahmed)

Changes in the bacterial cell envelope in response to environmental conditions ( Muad Khalefah)

Biological role of membrane proteins

Following on form the "omic" revolutions, we now have a vast data base of genes that are present in bacteria, but a limited understanding of their biological function. One sub class of proteins that are generally very variable are the membrane spanning proteins, many of which are annotated with potential functions, but not definitive experimental data supports these predictions. To correct this gap in our understanding we are looking at systematic methods to identify the functions of this sub set of proteins using classical genetic techniques combined with robotics. This work is designed to aid the development of the minimal genome by defining genes that are either redundant in function or are unnecessary except under specific condition.

   The ultimate objective being the construction of strains with the minimal gene content for viable replication that can be customised with a specific gene complement (set of bio-bricks) to fulfil a specific function.

 Current projects:

High throughput genetic manipulation of strains using various selection systems and screening methods for phenotypic characterisation (  )

Functional roles of conserved cell envelope components is assimilation of metals (Sahar Aljahdali)

Synthetic biology

 Exploitation of basic cellular processes and the consequences of mutations in synthetic biology ( )

Current teaching at masters level:

Modules: 

MMB8106 Molecular Microbiology

MMB8008 Cell Cycle Control and Cell Signalling in Health and Disease

Pastoral Tutor for undergraduates in years 1, 2 and 3 and second supervisor for PhD projects.

Primary Research supervision for: 

Undergraduate final year projects, MRes and MSci projects and PhD projects.

Previous PhD students:

M. Phil supervisor for M. Chow (2014).

Main supervisor for completed PhDs:

 M. Xu ( D.Phil in Oxford 2008), P. Gamba (2011), A. Doble (2012), S. Moore (2013), K Sidiq (2012), Jad Sassine (2013), F. Alatawi (2020) M. Chow (2022), G. Goldsmith (2022), A. Ajohani (2024), A. Alofi (2025), Y. Alanazi (2025)

Current PhD students:

Areej Aljohani - Uptake systems

Sahar Aljahdali - Metal ion assimilation

Marwa Ahmed - Sigma factor activation

Muad Khalefah - teichoic acid modification

• Articles

  • Warneke R, Herzberg C, Daniel R, Hormes B, Stülke J. . mBio 2024, 15(4), e03456-23.
  • Guyet A, Alofi A, Daniel RA. . mBio 2023, 14(1), e0266722.
  • Du RL, Chow H, Chen YW, Chan P, Daniel RA, Wong K. . Frontiers in Microbiology 2023, 13, 1080308.
  • Sidiq KR, Chow MW, Zhao Z, Daniel RA. . Molecular Microbiology 2021, 115(4), 739-757.
  • Zhao Y, Zang G, Yin T, Ma X, Zhou L, Wu L, Daniel R, Wang Y, Qiu J, Wang G. . Bioactive Materials 2021, 6(2), 375-385.
  • Li T, Safitri M, Zhang K, Wang Y, Huang L, Zhu Y, Daniel R, Wu LJ, Qiu J, Wang G. . Atherosclerosis 2020, 310, 64-74.
  • Sassine J, Sousa J, Lalk M, Daniel RA, Vollmer W. . Scientific Reports 2020, 10, 17910.
  • Sassine J, Sousa J, Lalk M, Daniel RA, Vollmer W. . Scientific Reports 2020, 10, 17910.
  • Wade Y, Daniel RA, Leak D. . ACS Synthetic Biology 2019, 8(7), 1642-1654.
  • Cleverley RM, Rutter ZJ, Rismondo J, Corona F, Tsui HCT, Alatawi FA, Daniel RA, Halbedel S, Massidda O, Winkler ME, Lewis RJ. . Nature Communications 2018, 10, 261.
  • Emami K, Guyet A, Kawai Y, Devi J, Wu LJ, Allenby N, Daniel RA, Errington J. . Nature Microbiology 2017, 2, 16253.
  • Sassine J, Xu M, Sidiq KR, Emmins R, Errington J, Daniel RA. . Molecular Microbiology 2017, 106(2), 304-318.
  • Gamba P, Hamoen LW, Daniel RA. . Frontiers in Microbiology 2016, 7, 1808.
  • Gamba P, Rietkötter E, Daniel RA, Hamoen LW. . Frontiers in Microbiology 2015, 6, 346.
  • Hoyland CN, Aldridge C, Cleverley RM, Duchêne MC, Minasov G, Onopriyenko O, Sidiq K, Stogios PJ, Anderson WF, Daniel RA, Savchenko A, Vollmer W, Lewis RJ. . Structure 2014, 22(7), 949-960.
  • Cleverley RM, Barrett JR, Baslé A, Bui NK, Hewitt L, Solovyova A, Xu Z-Q, Daniel RA, Dixon NE, Harry EJ, Oakley AJ, Vollmer W, Lewis RJ. . Nature Communications 2014, 5, 5421.
  • Domínguez-Cuevas P, Porcelli I, Daniel RA, Errington J. . Molecular Microbiology 2013, 89(6), 1084-1098.
  • Bulmer DM, Kharraz L, Grant AJ, Dean P, Morgan FJ, Karavolos MH, Doble AC, McGhie EJ, Koronakis V, Daniel RA, Mastroeni P, Khan CMA. . PLoS Pathogens 2012, 8(1), e1002500.
  • Halbedel S, Hahn B, Daniel RA, Flieger A. . Molecular Microbiology 2012, 83(4), 821-839.
  • Wolf D, Dominguez-Cuevas P, Daniel RA, Mascher T. . Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2012, 56(11), 5907-5915.
  • Kawai Y, Marles-Wright J, Cleverley RM, Emmins R, Ishikawa S, Kuwano M, Heinz N, Bui NK, Hoyland CN, Ogasawara N, Lewis RJ, Vollmer W, Daniel RA, Errington J. . EMBO Journal 2011, 30(24), 4931-4941.
  • Fukushima T, Furihata I, Emmins R, Daniel RA, Hoch JA, Szurmant H. . Molecular Microbiology 2011, 79(2), 503-522.
  • Deghorain M, Fontaine L, David B, Mainardi JL, Courtin P, Daniel R, Errington J, Sorokin A, Bolotin A, Chapot-Chartier MP, Hallet B, Hols P. . Journal of Biological Chemistry 2010, 285(31), 24003-24013.
  • Gamba P, Veening JW, Saunders NJ, Hamoen LW, Daniel RA. . Journal of Bacteriology 2009, 191(13), 4186-4194.
  • Muñoz-Espín D, Daniel R, Kawai Y, Carballido-López R, Castilla-Llorente V, Errington J, Meijer WJJ, Salas M. . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2009, 106(32), 13347-13352.
  • Kawai Y, Daniel RA, Errington J. . Molecular Microbiology 2009, 71(5), 1131-1144.
  • Leaver M, Dominguez-Cuevas P, Coxhead JM, Daniel RA, Errington J. . Nature 2009, 457(7231), 849-853.
  • Claessen D, Emmins R, Hamoen LW, Daniel RA, Errington J, Edwards DH. . Molecular Microbiology 2008, 68(4), 1029-1046.
  • Bramkamp M, Emmins R, Weston L, Donovan C, Daniel RA, Errington J. . Molecular Microbiology 2008, 70(6), 1556-1569.
  • Deghorain M, Goffin P, Fontaine L, Mainardi J-L, Daniel R, Errington J, Hallet B, Hols P. . Journal of Bacteriology 2007, 189(11), 4332-4337.
  • Valbuena N, Letek M, Ordonez E, Ayala J, Daniel RA, Gil JA, Mateos LM. . Molecular Microbiology 2007, 66(3), 643-657.
  • Bramkamp M, Weston L, Daniel RA, Errington J. . Molecular Microbiology 2006, 62(2), 580-591.
  • Daniel RA, Noirot-Gros M-F, Noirot P, Errington J. . Journal of Bacteriology 2006, 188(21), 7396-7404.
  • Errington J, Daniel RA, Scheffers DJ. . Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews 2003, 67(1), 52-65.
  • Daniel RA, Errington J. . Cell 2003, 113(6), 767-776.
  • Dervyn E, Suski C, Daniel RA, Bruand C, Chapuis J, Errington J, Jannière L, Ehrlich SD. . Science 2001, 294(5547), 1716-1719.
  • Thomas JD, Daniel RA, Errington J, Robinson C. . Molecular Microbiology 2001, 39(1), 47-53.
  • Daniel RA, Harry EJ, Errington J. . Molecular Microbiology 2000, 35(2), 299-311.
  • Daniel RA, Errington J. . Molecular Microbiology 2000, 36(2), 278-289.
  • Wu LJ, Daniel RA, Scowcroft H, Errington J. Characterization of the ftsW (ylaO) gene of Bacillus subtilis and its role in cell division during growth and sporulation. 2000.
  • Feucht A, Daniel RA, Errington J. . Molecular Microbiology 1999, 33(5), 1015-1026.
  • Daniel RA, Harry EJ, Katis VL, Wake RG, Errington J. . Molecular Microbiology 1998, 29(2), 593-604.
  • Daniel RA, Haiech J, Denizot F, Errington J. . Journal of Bacteriology 1997, 179(17), 5636-5638.
  • Zhang B, Daniel RA, Errington J, Kroos L. . Journal of Bacteriology 1997, 179(3), 972-975.
  • Parker GF, Daniel RA, Errington J. . Microbiology 1996, 142(12), 3445-3452.
  • Daniel RA, Williams AM, Errington J. . Journal of Bacteriology 1996, 178(8), 2343-2350.
  • Daniel RA, Drake S, Buchanan CE, Scholle R, Errington J. . Journal of Molecular Biology 1994, 235(1), 209-220.
  • Daniel RA, Errington J. . Journal of General Microbiology 1993, 139(2), 361-370.
  • Daniel RA, Errington J. . Journal of Molecular Biology 1993, 232(2), 468-483.
  • Yanouri A, Daniel RA, Errington J, Buchanan CE. . Journal of Bacteriology 1993, 175(23), 7604-7616.
  • Errington J, Appleby L, Daniel RA, Goodfellow H, Partridge SR, Yudkin MD. . Journal of General Microbiology 1992, 138(12), 2609-2618.
  • Stevens CM, Daniel R, Illing N, Errington J. . Journal of Bacteriology 1992, 174(2), 586-594.

• Book Chapter

  • Errington J, Daniel RA. . In: Sonenshein, L; Losick, R; Hoch, JA, ed. Bacillus Subtilis and Its Closest Relatives: From Genes to Cells. Washington, D.C: American Society for Microbiology, 2002, pp.97-109.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

  • Errington J, Daniel RA, Feucht A, Lewis PJ, Wu LJ. . In: Molecular Microbiology. 1998, Birmingham, UK: Berlin Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.

• Notes

  • Zhao Y, Zang G, Yin T, Ma X, Zhou L, Wu L, Daniel R, Wang Y, Qiu J, Wang G. . Bioactive Materials 2022, 8, 574.
  • Sassine J, Sousa J, Lalk M, Daniel RA, Vollmer W. . Scientific Reports 2021, 11(1), 6156.