Viral-induced DNA damage triggers both eukaryotic and prokaryotic innate immunity. Here, we report that self-DNA ends generated routinely during normal termination of bacterial replication suffice to ...

Biochemistry; Genetics; Molecular structure

The Review describes shared ancient, conserved mechanisms between human antiviral immunity and bacterial anti-phage systems, outlining universal principles of pathogen sensing, signalling and effector...

Many bacterial immune defenses transmit recognition of phage infection via the generation of diverse cyclic nucleotide second messengers. Phage have evolved to subvert this kind of immunity by sequest...

All organisms defend against viral infections through active immunity mechanisms that clear the virus or population-level mechanisms that cause regulated cell death. Recent research increasingly shows...

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DURHAM, N.C. – The Burroughs Wellcome Fund is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease (PATH) awards, recognizing assistant…

Use the Phage ORFeome Library to uncover the triggers responsible for immune activation.

Over 10 species of Rickettsia cause serious human disease across the globe, including deadly spotted fever and typhus. These arthropod-borne microbes …

Research Fellow - AR3262, School of Biology Salary: Grade 6 / £38,784 pa Start date: 1 July 2026 Full time Fixed term: 36 months, <p><span>Applications are sought for a committed Post-doctoral Research Fellow to work with Dr Rafael Guimaraes da Silva conducting research for a Leverhulme Trust Research Grant funded project to dissect catalysis and allostery in a gut microbiome ATP phosphoribosyltransferase enzyme.&nbsp; The primary duties will be to uncover the catalytic and allosteric mechanisms via protein crystallography and enzymology.</span></p> <p><span>The successful applicant will have (or be near to completion of) a PhD in Biochemistry or Structural Biology with expertise in X-ray crystallography and enzymology.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>The post is available for 36 months starting 1^st July 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. </span></p> <p><span>Further information and informal enquiries may be directed to Dr Rafael Guimaraes da Silva at&nbsp;</span>rgds@st-andrews.ac.uk</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"><strong>Benefits:</strong></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 2rem;"> <li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: normal;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span><span>Financial contribution to&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/hr/payandpensions/removalandrelocationpolicy/" style="color: #565661; background-color: transparent;">relocation</a>&nbsp;<span>(subject to eligibility)</span></li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 2rem;"> <li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: normal;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span><span>Membership of the USS Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions of 14.5%</span></li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 2rem;"> <li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: normal;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span><span>A hybrid working environment, including partial homeworking where appropriate and a range of family friendly policies, supporting work-life balance</span></li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 2rem;"> <li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: normal;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span><span>Staff discount scheme for local and national goods and services</span></li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 2rem;"> <li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: normal;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span><span>Free staff parking, employee Carshare and Cycle to Work Schemes and subsidised local bus travel</span></li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 2rem;"> <li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: normal;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span><span>Subsidised sports membership, reduced tuition fees on degree programmes for staff, access to training and development opportunities including LinkedIn Learning, access to library facilities, salary sacrifice scheme</span></li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 2rem;"> <li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: normal;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span><span>34 Days Annual Leave plus 5 Public Holidays.</span></li> </ul> <p><span><br> </span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"><em>At St Andrews, equality, diversity, and inclusion are central to who we are and form a core pillar of our University Strategy. We are committed to creating a fair, inclusive and supportive workplace, reflected in our participation in national diversity charters and awards, including Athena Swan, Carer Positive and the Race Equality Charter.&nbsp;</em></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"><em>We particularly welcome applications from people from Black, Asian, minority ethnic and minority religions backgrounds and from LGBTQ+ and disabled people.&nbsp;</em></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"><strong>Closing date: 17 April 2026</strong></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"><strong>Interview date: 11 May 2026</strong></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"><strong>Job Description:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk//ViewAttachment.aspx?enc=jmxpV+AcVus8i/wvT3FZXrrCOvCUGNWd9uca/tGZrAJOxn0uaIw998B27m1Z2faQPrIL0fNvKayeQQ9Vm6dRjh8e9IpvpaUCTN3uAzHFqby4lpmr7kDQu7hbKVYB1s1b" target="_blank" title="AR3262RS FPs.pdf">AR3262RS FPs.pdf</a><br> </strong></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"><strong>Ref no: AR3262RS</strong></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;">School of Biology</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;">Salary: Grade 6 / &pound;38,784 pa</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;">Start date: 1 July 2026</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;">Full time</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;">Fixed term: 36 months</p>, Working Hours : Full Time School/Unit : School of Biology Job Family : Academic (Research) ,

Microorganisms have tremendous potential to impact humanity, but such revelations are only possible in the light of foundational, discovery-based microbiology research.

Tak et al. discover that bacteria use 2′,3′-cGAMP, the same signaling molecule employed by mammalian cGAS-STING, for phage defense. In response to phage, 2′,3′-cGAMP activates filament formation of Ca...

Tak et al. discover that bacteria use 2′,3′-cGAMP, the same signaling molecule employed by mammalian cGAS-STING, for phage defense. In response to phage, 2′,3′-cGAMP activates filament formation of Ca...

A library of 400 phage protein-coding genes is used to find a trove of antiphage systems, revealing systems that target tail fibre and major capsid proteins.

Nature Microbiology, Published online: 16 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41564-025-02239-6A library of 400 phage protein-coding genes is used to find a trove of antiphage systems, revealing systems that target tail fibre and major capsid proteins.

In this perspective, Whiteley and Shepherd describe emerging studies showing a role for long terminal repeat retrotransposons and endogenous retroviruses in brain function and disease. Historically ig...

Join us in exploring the hidden functions of ancient immune proteins in bacteria. Bacteria, like plants and animals, have evolved sophisticated systems to detect and respond to threats.

Defense-associated reverse transcriptases (DRTs) employ diverse and distinctive mechanisms of cDNA synthesis to protect bacteria against viral infection. However, much of DRT family diversity remains ...

Some bacterial-infecting viruses use ‘sponges’ to mop up defence molecules, but bacteria can fight back by responding when a sponge captures decoy molecules.

Panoptes, an anti-phage defence system against virus-mediated immune suppression, is revealed.

The Panoptes antiphage system defends bacteria by detecting phage-encoded counter-defences that sequester cyclic nucleotide signals, triggering membrane disruption and highlighting a broader strategy of sensing immune evasion through second-messenger surveillance.

The Panoptes antiphage system defends bacteria by detecting phage-encoded counter-defences that sequester cyclic nucleotide signals, triggering membrane disruption and highlighting a broader strategy of sensing immune evasion through second-messenger surveillance.

The Panoptes antiphage system defends bacteria by detecting phage-encoded counter-defences that sequester cyclic nucleotide signals, triggering membrane disruption and highlighting a broader strategy of sensing immune evasion through second-messenger surveillance.

Panoptes, an anti-phage defence system against virus-mediated immune suppression, is revealed.

Panoptes, an anti-phage defence system against virus-mediated immune suppression, is revealed.