Joy Kirigo

Serine Recombinase PinR Inverts Cryptic Prophage DNA to Block Adsorption of Phages

The paper identifies PinR, a serine recombinase in E. coli, which inverts prophage DNA to block T2 phage infection by creating a protein that prevents phage receptor binding.

Toxin/Antitoxin Systems Induce Persistence and Work in Concert with Restriction/Modification Systems to Inhibit Phage

The paper shows toxin/antitoxin systems induce persister cells to inhibit phage, working with restriction-modification systems to inactivate phage DNA.

Single-Cell Analysis Reveals Cryptic Prophage Protease LfgB Protects Escherichia coli During Oxidative Stress by Cleaving Antitoxin MqsA

The paper uses single-cell analysis to show that the MqsR/MqsA TA system in E. coli protects against oxidative stress via the cryptic prophage protease LfgB, which degrades MqsA to activate stress response genes.