E. J. Rubin

Development of an Engineered Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strain for a Safe and Effective Tuberculosis Human Challenge Model

This paper develops an engineered Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain with kill switches for a safe TB human challenge model, showing rapid clearance and low escape rates.

Genetically encoded transcriptional plasticity underlies stress adaptation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

This study examines transcriptional plasticity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis across diverse environmental conditions and identifies genetic factors influencing it.

Transposon-sequencing across multiple Mycobacterium abscessus isolates reveals significant functional genomic diversity among strains

This study uses transposon-sequencing to analyze functional genomic diversity across 21 Mycobacterium abscessus isolates, identifying essential and non-essential genes and previously uncharacterized genetic networks.

A tRNA modification in Mycobacterium tuberculosis facilitates optimal intracellular growth

The paper identifies a tRNA modification in Mycobacterium tuberculosis that supports its intracellular growth by showing that its absence reduces bacterial growth in macrophages.

Chemically-induced targeted protein degradation in mycobacteria uncovers antibacterial effects and potentiates antibiotic efficacy

This study uses a genetic system to screen essential proteins in Mycobacterium smegmatis, identifying labile targets for PROTACs and showing their potential to enhance antibiotic efficacy.

Peptidyl tRNA hydrolase is required for robust prolyl-tRNA turnover in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The paper develops Cu-tRNAseq to study peptidyl tRNA turnover in Mtb, finding Pth is essential for prolyl-tRNA recycling and identifies Pth as a potential TB therapeutic target.

Cell envelope remodeling requires high concentrations of biotin during Mycobacterium abscessus model lung infection

This study identifies biotin-dependent fatty acid remodeling as essential for Mycobacterium abscessus survival in the lung, suggesting biotin synthesis and fatty acid metabolism as therapeutic targets.

Tuberculosis treatment failure associated with evolution of antibiotic resilience

The paper identifies resR as a target of positive selection in Mtb clinical isolates, linking its mutations to antibiotic resilience and treatment failure.

Antibiotic action revealed by real-time imaging of the mycobacterial membrane

This study uses real-time imaging to observe how antibiotics affect mycobacterial cell envelope remodeling, revealing unique cellular responses and extracellular vesicle production.

A tRNA-acetylating toxin and detoxifying enzyme in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The paper identifies a TA system in Mtb, TacAT, where TacT acetylates tRNAs to inhibit translation and Pth reverses this effect, showing Pth's essentiality is unaffected by TacAT's absence.

High-density transposon mutagenesis in Mycobacterium abscessus identifies an essential penicillin-binding lipo-protein (PBP-lipo) involved in septal peptidoglycan synthesis and antibiotic sensitivity

Modeling site-specific nucleotide biases affecting Himar1 transposon insertion frequencies in TnSeq datasets

This paper identifies site-specific nucleotide biases affecting Himar1 transposon insertion frequencies in TnSeq datasets and introduces a new method to improve the identification of conditionally essential genes.

Prophage-encoded phage defence proteins with cognate self-immunity

The paper identifies BstA, a prophage-encoded phage defense protein that suppresses phage epidemics through abortive infection, with self-immunity mediated by the anti-BstA element.

Pyrazinamide triggers degradation of its target aspartate decarboxylase

This paper shows that pyrazinamide's active form, POA, triggers degradation of its target enzyme PanD via the ClpC1-ClpP protease, rather than inhibiting it directly.

A conserved translation factor is required for optimal synthesis of a membrane protein family in mycobacteria

This study identifies LepA as a conserved GTPase that enhances the synthesis of mycobacterial porins, affecting drug tolerance and membrane permeability.

Rv3722c governs aspartate-dependent nitrogen metabolism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

This study identifies Rv3722c as the primary aspartate aminotransferase in Mtb, revealing its role in nitrogen distribution and highlighting it as a potential drug target.

Global assessment of Mycobacterium avium subspecies hominissuis genetic requirement for growth and virulence.

This study identifies genetic requirements for growth and virulence in Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis using transposon mutagenesis, revealing shared and unique genes with M. tuberculosis.

Large-scale chemical-genetics yields new Mycobacterium tuberculosis inhibitor classes

This study uses a novel chemical-genetics screening strategy to identify new inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, revealing novel compound classes targeting previously unexplored bacterial targets.