With these authors you know it’s a must-read
06.02.2026 19:08 — 👍 9 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Chemical inhibition of a bacterial immune system
Bacteriophages are promising alternatives to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections.
However, bacteria possess immune systems that neutralize bacteriophages. Zang et al.
discover small molecule...
Chemical inhibition of a bacterial immune system
Small molecules inhibit type II Thoeris anti-phage systems from diverse bacteria. One compound, IP6C, improves phage-therapy against P. aeruginosa & is effective against Thoeris in polymicrobial communities
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
30.01.2026 17:20 — 👍 20 🔁 11 💬 0 📌 1
amen to that!
30.01.2026 14:35 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
This is very bad news
30.01.2026 08:19 — 👍 2 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
Multiple protein structure alignment at scale with FoldMason
Protein structure is conserved beyond sequence, making multiple structural alignment (MSTA) essential for analyzing distantly related proteins. Computational prediction methods have vastly extended ou...
FoldMason is out now in @science.org. It generates accurate multiple structure alignments for thousands of protein structures in seconds. Great work by Cameron L. M. Gilchrist and @milot.bsky.social.
📄 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🌐 search.foldseek.com/foldmason
💾 github.com/steineggerla...
30.01.2026 06:11 — 👍 297 🔁 147 💬 4 📌 3
Bacterial defense via RES-mediated NAD+ depletion is countered by phage phosphatases
Many bacterial defense systems restrict phage infection by breaking the molecule NAD+ to its constituents, adenosine diphosphate ribose (ADPR) and nicotinamide (Nam). To counter NAD+ depletion-mediated defense, phages evolved NAD+ reconstitution pathway 1 (NARP1), which uses ADPR and Nam to rebuild NAD+. Here we report a bacterial defense system called aRES, involving RES-domain proteins that degrade NAD+ into Nam and ADPR-1″-phosphate (ADPR-1P). This molecule cannot serve as a substrate for NARP1, so that NAD+ depletion by aRES defends against phages even if they encode NARP1. We further discover that some phages evolved an extended NARP1 pathway capable of overcoming aRES defense. In these phages, the NARP1 operon also includes a specialized phosphatase, which dephosphorylates ADPR-1P to form ADPR, a substrate from which NARP1 then reconstitutes NAD+. Other phages encode inhibitors that directly bind aRES proteins and physically block their active sites. Our study describes new layers in the NAD+-centric arms race between bacteria and phages and highlights the centrality of the NAD+ pool in cellular battles between viruses and their hosts. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. European Research Council, ERC-AdG GA 101018520 Israel Science Foundation, MAPATS grant 2720/22 Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, SPP 2330, grant 464312965 Minerva Foundation with funding from the Federal German Ministry for Education and Research research grant from Magnus Konow in honor of his mother Olga Konow Rappaport Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, https://ror.org/05aycsg86 Clore Scholars Program
Bacterial defense via RES-mediated NAD+ depletion is countered by phage phosphatases | bioRxiv https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.28.702374v1?rss=1
29.01.2026 04:39 — 👍 8 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
Jobs
View the current job vacancies at the Microbiology Society.
We are looking for new editors for Microbiology, the flagship journal of @microbiologysociety.org
Deadline for applications is 16 Feb 2026
microbiologysociety.org/who-we-are/j...
28.01.2026 08:44 — 👍 9 🔁 19 💬 0 📌 0
To those American academics out there who have chosen to remain silent/mostly silent about the horror going on in the USA these days at every corner of the federal government, please start speaking out and fighting back.
25.01.2026 04:33 — 👍 193 🔁 45 💬 2 📌 0
Hello world! I am excited to announce my lab is open at the University of Utah in the Department of Biochemistry. We are looking for scientists at all levels interested in studying host-virus interactions in both bacteria and animals. Come join us in beautiful Utah! (photo is 10 steps from lab)
22.01.2026 22:06 — 👍 72 🔁 31 💬 6 📌 0
CRISPR2026.
The CRISPR 2026 website is up! Links for abstract submission and registration will be available February 1st: web.cvent.com/event/ac20b6...
23.01.2026 22:53 — 👍 4 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
All the best Sam!
22.01.2026 18:46 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Congrats, richly deserved!
22.01.2026 18:41 — 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Our latest CRISPR ring nuclease paper focusses on Csx15 - which seems to act as of a sponge as well as a canonical phosphodiesterase. Great work led by @haotianchi.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
22.01.2026 08:57 — 👍 36 🔁 20 💬 0 📌 0
Makes more sense
21.01.2026 21:38 — 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
Research Professional Sign-in
UKRI pauses several funding calls amid priorities shake-up
The applicant-led MRC funding calls on pause include research grants, partnership grants and new investigator research grants made available through the council’s research boards.
www.researchprofessional.com/news-article...
19.01.2026 17:24 — 👍 4 🔁 17 💬 4 📌 2
A methylome-derived m6-dAMP trigger assembles a PUA-Cal-HAD immune filament that depletes dNTPs to abort phage infection
Bacteria must distinguish phage attack from normal homeostatic processes, yet the danger signals that trigger many defence systems remain unknown. Here, we show that a PUA-Calcineurin-CE-HAD module from Escherichia coli ECOR28 confers broad anti-phage protection by binding Dam-methylated deoxyadenosine monophosphate (m6-dAMP) generated during phage-induced chromosome degradation. Ligand binding converts a preassembled PUA-Calcineurin-CE hexamer loaded with six HAD phosphatases into a polymerising filament. The filament acts as a high-flux dNTP sink through a two-enzyme cascade: HAD first dephosphorylates dATP to dADP, and Calcineurin-CE then converts dADP to dAMP. dNTP collapse halts phage replication and enforces abortive infection. Multiple mobile-element DNA mimic proteins block filament assembly, revealing a direct phage counter-defence. More broadly, our findings extend a conserved, cross-kingdom paradigm of immune filament assembly to nucleotide-depletion antiviral defence and suggest modified-nucleotide sensing by related PUA-Calcineurin-CE modules as a widespread, underappreciated bacterial strategy. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, https://ror.org/01qqpzg67, Postdoctoral Bridging Fellowship F.L.N. is supported by a Wessex Health Partners (WHP) and National Institute for Health and Care Research Wessex Experimental Medicine Network (NIHR WEMN), Seed fund National Institutes of Health, GM145888, U24 GM129539) Maloris Foundation Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, P30-CA008748 Simons Foundation, SF349247 New York State Assembly
Preprint out: We characterise PUA-Cal-HAD, a widespread bacterial antiphage defence family. An infection cue switches a preassembled complex into an immune filament that drains dNTPs via a coupled two-enzyme cascade, and phage DNA mimics can block filament assembly (anti-polymerisation).
17.01.2026 14:52 — 👍 34 🔁 19 💬 1 📌 0
'After assessing the DMC’s recommendations and conducting an internal analysis of unexpectedly high rates of adverse events, the Company has elected to discontinue the trial'
16.01.2026 16:45 — 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
As no reflection at all on the excellent organisers or the excellence of this meeting. There is not a force in nature that would make me travel to the USA for a scientific meeting right now.
14.01.2026 20:54 — 👍 23 🔁 2 💬 2 📌 0
8–11 June 2026 | 📍 Heraklion, Crete 🇬🇷
Get ready for Machines on Genes 2026, the 94th Harden Conference by the @biochemsoc.bsky.social — four days of molecular mechanisms and friendly discussions! 🧬☀️🔬❄️
Organised by @lapassmore.bsky.social, Dana Branzei, me.
09.01.2026 10:14 — 👍 15 🔁 11 💬 1 📌 0
The Biochemical Journal offers a rapid decision on your submission and expert academic editors. All proceeds are used to support the academic community. Please get in touch if you'd like to discuss a potential submission!
14.01.2026 12:07 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Biochemical Journal | Portland Press
Exploring the molecular mechanisms that underpin key biological processes, the Biochemical Journal is a leading bioscience journal publishing high-impact scientific research papers and reviews in the ...
Pleased to announce that I've joined the editorial board of the Biochemical Journal portlandpress.com/biochemj as an associate editor. I'd love to receive manuscripts focussed on CRISPR, anti-viral defence, archaean biochemistry and nucleic acid processing enzymes.
@biochemsoc.bsky.social
14.01.2026 12:07 — 👍 17 🔁 5 💬 1 📌 0
The USA we knew and admired is disintegrating before our eyes.
08.01.2026 20:02 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Phage-associated Cas12p nucleases require binding to bacterial thioredoxin for activation and cleavage of target DNA www.nature.com/articles/s41...
04.01.2026 05:56 — 👍 18 🔁 8 💬 0 📌 0
Irishman in Maryland.
https://boxd.it/5ozfJ
Has-been structural biologist FRS (no really) reinventing himself as a computational cancer geneticist in the post-AlphaFold world. Hooked on boats. Picture - outside Leonard Cohen's house on Hydra after sailing there.
ORCID 0000-0002-6910-1809
Assistant Professor at University of Utah studying host-virus interactions
http://hobbs.biochem.utah.edu/
Personal account - medical journalist who likes Scouting, sailing, kayaking and reading. She/Her.
Green Party Leader (England & Wales)
London Assembly Member.
Chair of London's Fire Committee.
🏳️🌈
https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1837201724?i=1000724643828
Microorganisms and Viruses in the ocean
https://sites.google.com/view/kentotominaga/
Federation of European Microbiological Societies | https://femsmicro.start.page | Magnifying microbial impact | Follow the not-for-profit FEMS Journals: @femsjournals.bsky.social | #FEMSJournals | #microbiology
EMBO is the organization of more than 2,100 leading researchers that promotes excellence in life sciences in Europe and beyond.
https://www.embo.org/
Still trying to figure out how to clone the perfect coffee.
Postdoc fellow @ Zhang lab, The Broad institute of MIT and Harvard
Microbe lover, Assistant professor @Uni_Tue @CoE_CMFI
working on system biology of bacteria & antibiotics.
@EMBL alumni, @Uni_WUE alumni
www.brochadolab.com
Editor-in-chief of BusinessGreen, writing for a couple of decades or so about the environment, the economy, green politics, and the Climate Theory of Everything
RNA, microbiology, infectious disease; Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research & University of Würzburg, Germany
www.helmholtz-hiri.de
Group Leader, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology & Joint Head of the Division of Protein & Nucleic Acid Chemistry. Senior Executive Editor, Nucleic Acids Research.
Postdoc in Westra lab, University of Exeter, Cornwall, UK
Interested in host-MGE and MGE-MGE interactions.
💛Temperate phages!
Group Leader/MRC Fellow at the University of Glasgow
Website: marianolab.com/home
Retired Professor of Microbiology in the UK. Love bacteriophages, Streptomyces, fun, outdoors, culture and politics.
Studying DNA replication, repair and recombination using biochemical, biophysical and structural methods. University of Bristol, UK.
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4612-7141
Royal Society University Research Fellow | NUAcT Fellow @ Newcastle University @mhd-newcastle.bsky.social
Investigating mycobacterial transport systems
#structuralbiology #microbiology
Instagram @kshbeckham
