Joseph P. Gerdt

The paper shows how phages evade bacterial immune systems by using allelic variation and an anti-defense hotspot, revealing a similarity to a human protein.

The paper identifies small-molecule inhibitors of the bacterial CBASS defense system to enhance phage therapy by blocking Cap5 activity.

The paper identifies chemical inhibitors of SpbK, an antiphage defense system in Bacillus subtilis, showing they promote phage dissemination and reveal mechanisms of inhibiting TIR-domain enzymes.

The paper identifies small molecule inhibitors of the Thoeris antiphage immune system in bacteria, showing that persistent immunity is required to prevent phage revival and population collapse.

The paper identifies lipid cues and endocytosis as key drivers of aggregation in Capsaspora owczarzaki, shedding light on evolutionary mechanisms and parasite transmission.

This study shows that 3'cADPR-induced SIR2 filament formation activates ThsA effectors in type I Thoeris systems across bacterial species.

This study identifies chemical inhibitors that block a bacterial immune system, enhancing phage therapy efficacy against resistant strains.

The paper investigates aggregation in a unicellular relative of animals, finding that it uses genes involved in animal multicellularity, suggesting aggregation was key to animal evolution.

This paper investigates chemokinesis in Capsaspora owczarzaki, showing it responds to prey-derived proteins and cell density, and develops a model suggesting chemokinesis enhances predation when combined with chemotaxis.

The paper identifies a bacterial secondary metabolite that sensitizes competitors to phage infection, providing a fitness advantage to the producer.

The paper identifies a host-derived phosphatidylcholine that induces multicellular aggregation in Capsaspora owczarzaki, suggesting a link between host physiology and symbiont behavior.

This study identifies genetic links between gut microbiota, lipids, and host transcripts in mice, revealing key roles for Akkermansia muciniphila and ornithine lipids in microbe-host interactions.