N. Wenner

Structure and rational engineering of the PglX methyltransferase and specificity factor for BREX phage defence

The paper characterizes the BREX system in Salmonella, determines the structure of PglX, and shows how rational engineering expands phage targeting and host motif methylation.

Phenotypic heterogeneity drives phage-bacteria coevolution in the intestinal tract

This study shows that phenotypic heterogeneity in bacteria affects phage-bacteria coevolution, leading to phage extinction due to genetic resistance evolution in the intestinal tract.

Salmonella succinate utilisation is inhibited by multiple regulatory systems

This study identifies multiple RpoS-independent regulatory systems that inhibit Salmonella's succinate utilisation, revealing redundant mechanisms controlling carbon metabolism during infection.

Vaccine-enhanced competition permits rational bacterial strain replacement in the gut

The paper demonstrates that oral vaccination combined with engineered competitor strains can exclude pathogens and replace bacterial strains in the mouse gut.

Genome-wide fitness analysis identifies genes required for in vitro growth and macrophage infection by African and Global Epidemic pathovariants of Salmonella Enteritidis

This study uses transposon insertion sequencing to identify genes required for growth and macrophage infection in African and Global Epidemic S. Enteritidis, finding shared and strain-specific virulence factors.

Biogenesis of a bacterial metabolosome for propanediol utilization

This study investigates the biogenesis of propanediol-utilization metabolosomes in bacteria, revealing both 'Shell first' and 'Cargo first' assembly pathways.

Distinct cell death pathways induced by granzymes collectively protect against intestinal Salmonella infection

This study shows that granzymes A and B use distinct cell death pathways to protect against intestinal Salmonella infection by balancing bacterial growth and translocation.

Scanning mutagenesis of RNA-binding protein ProQ reveals a quality control role for the Lon protease

This study identifies ProQ residues critical for function and reveals that Lon protease mediates quality control of ProQ and Hfq by degrading non-functional RNA-binding proteins.

Isolation and characterisation of bacteriophages with activity against invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella causing bloodstream infection in Malawi

This study isolates and characterizes bacteriophages active against invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella causing bloodstream infections in Malawi, identifying three phylogenetic clusters with varying host ranges.

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.

A window into lysogeny: Revealing temperate phage biology with transcriptomics

The paper uses bacterial RNA-seq data to identify novel prophage accessory loci by analyzing transcriptional landscapes of Salmonella prophages.

The diversity, evolution and ecology of Salmonella in venomous snakes

This study investigates Salmonella diversity in venomous snakes, finding 91% prevalence and identifying metabolic differences between subspecies, suggesting a potential role in human Salmonellosis in Africa.

Adding function to the genome of African Salmonella ST313

The paper compares genomic and transcriptomic differences between Salmonella ST313 and ST19 isolates to identify phenotypic variations and a novel plasmid maintenance system.