Daniel Luque

Dr Daniel Luque serves as associate director of the Electron Microscopy Unit and senior lecturer at the School of Biomedical Sciences within the Faculty of Medicine & Health at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). With over 20 years of experience in structural biology and electron microscopy, he has established expertise in cryogenic electron microscopy techniques for macromolecular complex analysis.

Dr Luque earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the Autonoma University of Madrid, Spain. His research spans multiple viral systems with particular focus on structural characterization using advanced microscopy methods.

His research encompasses:

• Structural analysis of diverse viral systems including dsRNA viruses (Rotavirus, Birnavirus, fungal viruses)
• Investigation of ssRNA viruses (rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus, human rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus)
• Study of ssDNA viruses (beak and feather disease virus, bat circovirus) and dsDNA bacteriophages (T5, T7, P22)
• Analysis of virus-cell interactions with cellular membranous systems

Current research focuses on three innovative areas:

• Development of nanotransporters/nanocages based on viral capsids
• Structural analysis of membrane fusion proteins from hRSV, hMPV, and coronaviruses
• Rotavirus entry mechanisms and tissue tropism

Dr Luque has solved over 100 three-dimensional structures by electron microscopy, bridging structural biology, virology, and nanotechnology with applications in vaccine development and drug delivery systems.

As associate director of the Electron Microscopy Unit within the Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, he provides world-class microscopy capabilities supporting academic and industry research. He supervises students in structural virology, electron microscopy, structural biology, and biological nanoparticles.