L. A. Marraffini

The Cas10 nuclease activity relieves host dormancy to facilitate spacer acquisition and retention during type III-A CRISPR immunity

This study shows that the Cas10 nuclease activity in type III-A CRISPR-Cas systems relieves host dormancy to enable spacer acquisition and retention, enhancing broad-spectrum immunity.

Bacterial cGAS senses a viral RNA to initiate immunity

The paper identifies a viral RNA that activates a bacterial immune system by binding to a cyclase, revealing a conserved mechanism for antiviral defense.

Integration of prophages into CRISPR loci remodels viral immunity in Streptococcus pyogenes

This study shows that the {Phi}AP1.1 phage uses an anti-CRISPR protein to temporarily disable CRISPR immunity, then integrates into the CRISPR locus to modulate immunity through spacer deletion and transfer.

Activation and self-inactivation mechanisms of the cyclic oligoadenylate-dependent CRISPR ribonuclease Csm6

This study investigates how EiCsm6 degrades its activator cA6 and uses structural and functional analyses to reveal activation and self-inactivation mechanisms of the CRISPR ribonuclease.

Expansion of CRISPR loci with multiple memories of infection enables the survival of structured bacterial communities

This study shows that type II CRISPR-Cas systems can generate spacer diversity at the cellular level, enabling survival of bacterial communities under phage infection on solid media.

Dynamics of Cas10 Govern Discrimination between Self and Nonself in Type III CRISPR-Cas Immunity

The paper uses single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to study Cas10 dynamics in type III CRISPR-Cas systems, revealing conformational changes that distinguish self from nonself RNA.