Research
We are interested in understanding how simple gene regulatory events and biochemical processes become complex decision-making machines in individuals or at population levels is a key challenge in biology. The research in our group is to address fundamental questions concerning:
1) How bacterial cells sense and respond to their environment and stressors to survive or initiate infection. We use advanced molecular and bioimaging techniques to investigate these processes.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa swarming
2) How bacterial cells interact with other microbes or host cells within complex and diverse communities in health and disease e.g. multispecies biofilms in oral environments. We use OMICS-based approaches to investigate these interactions.
CpG motif frequency in genomes of cariogenic, endodontic, periodontal bacteria. (J Oral Microbiol 2025, 17:2486639)
3) How to harness microbial cells and communities for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. We use engineering biology approaches to achieve this.
Concept for designing kynurenine detecting biosensor (Access Microbiol doi:10.1099/acmi.0.001031.v4)
Also, we are interested in exploring the broad bio-diversities in various environmental habitats to discover novel microorganisms and biocatalysts and to study their potential roles for anti-infectious and biotechnological applications. We have established several national and international research collaborations including in Bradford, Nottingham, Malaysia, and China.
We are welcoming anyone interested in microbes to join us and to explore their good, their bad, and their useful.
Current Research Team
Mandy Fengyi Wang (PhD student)
Pisit Charoenwongwatthana (PhD student)
Angeliki Marouli (PhD student)
Eve Apostel (PhD student)
​
​
Previous Group Members
PhD
Dr Paul Norton
Dr Pavlos Trus
​
MSc/MRes
Alina Novikova (MSc)
Bonolo Phinius (MSc)
Emma Dobson (MSc)
Nadhira Azzahra (MRes)
Oslovenya Caroline (MRes)
Athalia Levinna (MRes)
Jason Chow (MRes)
Charlotte Norton (MRes)
Lucy Blackett (MRes)
Jack Kiggins (MRes)
Athalia Levinna (MRes)
Megan Gunawan (MRes)
​
BSc
Ferdos Ali
Daniel Clucas
Georgina Young
Eloise Nelson​