By Dr. Douglas R. Waverly, Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry, Yale University

Nature Communications - SpbK protects Bacillus subtilis from phage infection by depleting NAD⁺. In this study, the authors uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying SpbK’s self...

Genes in many bacteria are rich in purine nucleotides and poor in pyrimidines. We show that this purine preference is critical for gene expression because it prevents premature transcription terminati...

A combination of large-scale phylogenomic analysis, mouse lethality experiments and bacterial growth assays shows that gene loss in the putrescine utilization pathway has enhanced biofilm formation an...

Author summary Bacterial viruses (bacteriophages or phages) are widespread and abundant across the planet. Bacteria have a variety of immune systems, often found on mobile genetic elements, to combat ...

Arizona scientist wants more transparency and equity from researchers in the handling of Indigenous DNA

Nature Reviews Microbiology - In this Review, Penadés et al. explore the genetics, potential origins and life cycle of phage satellites, and they discuss the impact of these elements on the...

Bacterial genomes typically contain mobile genetic elements, including bacteriophages (viruses) and integrative and conjugative elements, that affect host physiology. ICEs can excise from the chromoso...

Premature expression of genes in mobile genetic elements can be detrimental to their bacterial hosts

The prototypic crAssphage (Carjivirus communis) is one of the most abundant, prevalent, and persiste

Multiresolution computational simulations generate all-atom models of a complete packaged virus particle.

In this Review, Ledvina and Whiteley highlight the key similarities between eukaryotic and bacterial innate immune systems, exploring conserved immune components and signalling strategies, as well as ...