Dr Vartul Sangal

Dr Sangal is interested in evolutionary and genetic analysis of whole genome sequences of bacteria and microbial community analysis of soil samples from challenging environments using computational approaches. His group works on identification and characterisation of novel virulence genes in pathogenic bacteria using molecular techniques. His research also emphasises the importance of incorporating genome sequence-based approaches into systematics for a reliable identification and classification of prokaryotic taxa.

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• A native bacterial consortium degrades estriol in domestic sewage and activated sludge via the 4,5- seco pathway and requires estriol to retain its biodegradation phenotype, Hashem, J., Ismail, W., Chiang, Y., Sangal, V., Hentati, D., Abotalib, N., Bekhit, A. 7 Oct 2025, In: Microbiology Spectrum
• Antrihabitans spumae sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from stable foams formed in wastewater treatment plants, and emended description of the genus Antrihabitans, Suescún-Sepúlveda, J., Riesco, R., Petrovski, S., Soddell, J., Sangal, V., Jones, A., Sánchez- Juanes, F., Seviour, R., Goodfellow, M., Trujillo, M. 28 Feb 2025, In: International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
• Genomic analysis of Aeromonas species isolated from retail foods suggests an under-investigated population, Harding-Crooks, R., Macori, G., Sangal, V., Jones, A., Smith, D., Fanning, S., Fox, E. 2 Nov 2025, In: International Journal of Food Microbiology
• Entering Poorly Charted Waters: The Biology of the Filamentous Acid-Loving Actinomycetes and Acidimicrobia, Golińska, P., Goodfellow, M., Sangal, V. 6 Feb 2024, Actinomycetes in Marine and Extreme Environments , Abingdon, CRC Press
• Environmental microbiome in the home and daycare settings during the COVID-19 pandemic, and potential risk of non-communicable disease in children, McKay, J., Crown, M., Bashton, M., Pearce, D., Entwistle, J., Sangal, V. Feb 2024, In: Environmental Microbiology Reports
• In memoriam - Michael Goodfellow (1941 - 2024), Embley, M., Sangal, V., Sutcliffe, I., Trujillo, M. 15 Apr 2024, In: International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
• Is the bacterial genus name Rhodococcus Zopf 1891 illegitimate? Request for an Opinion, Goodfellow, M., Oren, A., Sangal, V., Sutcliffe, I. 25 Jan 2024, In: International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
• Phylogenomic analyses of multidrug resistant Corynebacterium striatum strains isolated from patients in a tertiary care hospital in the UK, Sangal, V., Marrs, E., Nelson, A., Perry, J. 1 Jul 2024, In: European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
• Phylogenomic diversity within Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a re-emerging threat to global public health, Sangal, V., Burkovski, A. 1 May 2024, Phylogenomics, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Elsevier
• Phylogenomic diversity within Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a reemerging threat to global public health, Burkovski, A., Sangal, V. May 2024, Phylogenomics, London, Elsevier

• Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
• Invited talk: 6th Meeting of Bergey’s International Society for Microbial Systematics (BISMiS 2025): Novel microbial diversity: shaping our health, environment and economy 2025
• Oral presentation: 20th International Symposium on the Biology of Actinomycetes (ISBA2025): Phylogenomic structure of new actinobacterial genus Rhodococcoides 2025
• Other: Poster: Distinct microbial communities in acidic forest soil environments with capacities to produce novel biomolecules. 2025
• Invited talk: 9th International Weigl Conference, University of Rzeszów - Distinct microbial communities in acidic forest soil environments with capacities to produce novel biomolecules  2024
• Invited talk: Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun - Environmental microbiome: shaping our health, environment and economy 2024
• Invited talk: Bergey’s International Society for Microbial Systematics: Spatiotemporal variations in the honeybee gut microbiome with capacity to produce novel biomolecules 2023
• Invited talk: Legitimate, illegitimate, valid, correct, rejected: negotiating a nomenclatural minefield with Prescottella equi. 2023
• Invited talk: London Interdisciplinary Biosciences Consortium (LIDo) Lecture Week: Impact of vaccine on evolutionary dynamics of human pathogen Corynebacterium diphtheriae 2021
• Invited talk: University of Cambridge: Influence of vaccine on evolution of Corynebacterium diphtheriae 2020
• Oral presentation: Application of whole genome sequencing to exploring intra-generic heterogeneity 2018

• Megan Paterson Molecular characterisation of novel pathways for cell envelope protein localisation in Rhodococcus equi Start Date: 01/10/2017
• Esther Smith Diagnosing asthma using PBM-Hale: comparing cytokines and the microbiome in exhaled breath condensate Start Date: 01/02/2024 End Date: 17/10/2025
• Esther Smith Diagnosing asthma using PBM-Hale: comparing cytokines and the microbiome in exhaled breath condensate Start Date: 01/02/2024
• Megan Paterson Molecular characterisation of novel pathways for cell envelope protein localisation in Rhodococcus equi Start Date: 01/10/2017 End Date: 17/10/2025

• Molecular Biology PhD October 01 2008
• Fellow (FHEA) Higher Education Academy (HEA) 2016

• Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
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