Stephen Spiro

BIOGRAPHY

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Dr. Spiro’s research is currently focused on responses to nitric oxide, a toxic free radical that is a by-product of normal metabolic processes in bacteria, as well as being a chemical defense synthesized by host phagocytic cells in response to infection by pathogenic microorganisms.
Nitric oxide (NO) is a water-soluble free-radical gas that is toxic in biological systems by virtue of its reactivity towards proteins, metal ions, lipids and DNA. Eukaryotic phagocytic cells exploit this toxicity by synthesizing NO as one of the arsenal of poisonous molecules that are used to kill invading pathogens. Successful intra-cellular pathogens (such as Salmonella and Mycobacterium species) are able to resist phagocyte killing mechanisms. There is increasing evidence that the ability to detoxify NO is required by some pathogens for survival inside host cells.


EDUCATION:
B.Sc., Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh, UK.
Ph.D., Molecular Biology and Microbiology, University of Sheffield, UK.


HOME PAGE
http://labspiro.wordpress.com/