Debnath Ghosal @debnathghosal.bsky.social · 12/06/2026What remained cryptic was the identity of the filaments that JR1 uses to lock onto their prey. Using cryo-EM, we solved the structure of the filament at high resolution, but most CPR proteins lack obvious sequence homologs and have very poor functional annotation. 130
Debnath Ghosal @debnathghosal.bsky.social · 12/06/2026By using visual-omics, we managed to assign the molecular identity of these filaments directly from structure, without relying on sequence homology. It turned out to be a completely novel filament system, never before described in any bacteria. 1153
Debnath Ghosal @debnathghosal.bsky.social · 12/06/2026The pilins have Ig-like folds and assemble via donor-strand exchange. The filaments show some similarities to the Pap/Fim pilus systems, so we named them “Pam” filaments (remember the Melbourne “bird”?). 150