J. Casadesus

Evolution of a bistable genetic system in fluctuating and non- fluctuating environments

The paper demonstrates that an epigenetic switch in Salmonella allows bistability in fluctuating environments but not in stable ones, supporting bet-hedging as an evolutionary strategy.

Transcription-driven DNA supercoiling activates bacterial chromatin at a distance

The paper shows transcription-induced counter-silencing of H-NS-repressed genes occurs at a distance through DNA supercoiling diffusion.

Genetic mining of newly isolated Salmophages for phage therapy

The paper isolates and genetically characterizes 10 Salmonella phages to identify potential functions for phage therapy against antibiotic-resistant Salmonella infections.

Pervasive transcription enhances the accessibility of H-NS-silenced promoters and generates bistability in Salmonella virulence gene expression

The paper shows that inhibiting Rho-dependent transcription termination in Salmonella allows spurious antisense transcription to displace H-NS, enabling SPI-1 gene expression and generating bistability.

Phase variation-based biosensors for bacteriophage detection and phage receptor discrimination

This paper develops phase variation-based biosensors to detect bacteriophages and identify their receptors in environmental samples.

The cell division factor ZapB is required for bile resistance in Salmonella enterica

This study shows that ZapB, a cell division factor in Salmonella enterica, is required for bile resistance, with its mRNA stability regulated by MicA sRNA in response to bile salts.