K. Severinov

Viral proteins activate PARIS-mediated tRNA degradation and viral tRNAs rescue infection

The paper shows that viral proteins activate PARIS-mediated tRNA degradation, and viral tRNAs rescue infection by preventing cleavage.

Interference Requirements of Type III CRISPR-Cas Systems from Thermus thermophilus

This study investigates the interference requirements of Type III-A and III-B CRISPR-Cas systems from Thermus thermophilus, finding that target RNA abundance influences crRNA-target complementarity needed for interference.

Single-molecule studies reveal the off-pathway elemental pause state as a target of streptolydigin inhibition of RNA polymerase and its dramatic enhancement by Gre factors

This study uses single-molecule techniques to show streptolydigin induces pauses in RNA polymerase, which are enhanced by Gre factors, revealing a new mechanism for antibiotic action.

Identification of an anti-CRISPR protein that inhibits the CRISPR-Cas type I-B system in Clostridioides difficile

This study identifies AcrIB2, an anti-CRISPR protein from a C. difficile phage that inhibits the type I-B CRISPR-Cas system, showing that a partial cas operon is sufficient for interference.

Phage T3 overcomes the BREX defence through SAM cleavage and inhibition of SAM synthesis

This study shows that bacteriophage T3 evades BREX defence by degrading SAM and inhibiting its synthesis, revealing SAM's role as a co-factor in phage defence systems.

Cell-free mutant analysis combined with structure prediction of a lasso peptide biosynthetic protein B2

The paper combines cell-free mutagenesis with AlphaFold2 structure prediction to validate the function of TfuB2, revealing a hydrophobic binding site for TfuB1.

Cells with Stochastically Increased Methyltransferase to Restriction Endonuclease Ratio Provide an Entry for Bacteriophage into Protected Cell Population

The paper shows that altering the MTase to REase ratio in bacterial cells affects phage infection resistance, with higher ratios correlating with increased susceptibility.

tRNA anticodon cleavage by target-activated CRISPR-Cas13a effector

The paper shows that Cas13a cleaves tRNA anticodons to induce bacterial dormancy and activates toxin-antitoxin modules for mRNA and rRNA cleavage.

Host-associated phages disperse across the extraterrestrial analogue Antarctica

The paper tracks host-associated phages across Antarctica using metagenomic data, finding long-distance dispersal of Ralstonia phages with implications for Astrobiology and Planetary Protection.

Bacteriostatic antibiotics promote the evolution of CRISPR-Cas immunity

This study shows bacteriostatic antibiotics promote CRISPR-Cas immunity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by slowing phage development and allowing more time for immune response.

Long-Term Persistence of Plasmids Targeted by CRISPR Interference in Bacterial Populations

The paper shows plasmids can persist in E. coli under continuous CRISPR targeting without genetic changes, due to stochastic processes and plasmid replication dynamics.

Detection of Spacer Precursors Formed In Vivo During Primed CRISPR Adaptation

The paper develops a method to detect spacer precursors formed during primed CRISPR adaptation in vivo and identifies their structural and functional characteristics.