Anne K. Dunn

Anne K. Dunn is an Associate Professor of Microbiology at The University of Oklahoma. Her research focuses on bacterial physiology and symbiotic interactions, particularly using Vibrio fischeri and Photobacterium leiognathi as model organisms. She earned her B.S. in Biology from Iowa State University (1996), a Ph.D. in Bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin (2002), and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Georgia (2002-2007).

Her lab investigates microbial energy conservation pathways, with a focus on the alternative oxidase (AOX) and its role in bacterial stress response and symbiosis. Key research themes include understanding AOX’s functional benefits in marine bacteria and the regulation of bioluminescence in Photobacterium leiognathi. The Dunn Lab integrates physiology, genetics, biochemistry, and bioinformatics to explore how microbial physiology influences survival and ecosystem roles.

Her advising includes graduate students like Aaron Russell and Tyer Shadid, and undergraduate researchers. The lab collaborates on projects involving bacterial metabolism, symbiotic interactions, and environmental adaptation. Current work extends to SAR11, SAR86, and Roseobacter group bacteria, leveraging genomic and transcriptomic data for broader ecological insights.