Daniel Wall

Dr. Daniel Wall is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology at the University of Wyoming, part of the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences, and Natural Resources. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Utah (1994) and a B.A. from Sonoma State University (1988). His research focuses on understanding how individual cells coordinate processes within multicellular organisms, using Myxococcus xanthus as a model organism. His lab investigates outer membrane exchange (OME), a process enabling social interactions and kin recognition in bacteria. Key research areas include cell-cell communication, evolutionary mechanisms, and the molecular basis of social behaviors in microbes.

Research Highlights:

• Discovery of OME, a mechanism for resource sharing and toxin exchange between clonemates.
• Analysis of TraA/TraB proteins mediating kin recognition and social group formation.
• Investigation of polymorphic toxin systems and their role in microbial conflicts.
• Studies on myxobacterial predation and adaptation in diverse environments.

Publications reflect cutting-edge work on OME mechanisms, toxin-antitoxin systems, and evolutionary adaptations in microbial communities. His work bridges molecular biology, microbiology, and evolutionary biology, with implications for understanding social behavior in bacteria.

Lab & Collaborations: The Wall Lab collaborates across disciplines, integrating genetics, biochemistry, and microscopy to explore microbial sociality. Recent projects address OME’s role in tissue repair, conflict resolution, and ecological interactions.