Stephen Spiro

Stephen Spiro is the C.L. and Amelia A. Lundell Distinguished Professor of Life Sciences and Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). He serves as Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and leads the Spiro Lab. His research focuses on bacterial responses to nitric oxide (NO), particularly detoxification mechanisms and regulatory pathways in Escherichia coli and Salmonella. Spiro holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Sheffield and a B.Sc. in Molecular Biology from the University of Edinburgh.

His work explores NO's role as a toxic byproduct of bacterial metabolism and a host defense molecule against pathogens. Key projects include studying transcriptional regulators like NorR and NsrR, which control NO resistance systems. Spiro's lab also investigates NO production during nitrite respiration and its impact on cellular targets.

Publications highlight advancements in understanding NO signaling, denitrification pathways, and bacterial adaptation to oxygen-limited environments. Recent studies focus on Paracoccus denitrificans and regulatory networks governing nitrate respiration and biofilm formation. Spiro's contributions bridge molecular mechanisms with environmental and pathogenic contexts, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches in microbiology.