R. K. Lau

A mobile intron facilitates interference competition between co-infecting viruses

The paper shows a mobile intron in bacteriophage ΦPA3 uses its homing endonuclease to interfere with co-infecting phage ΦKZ, providing a competitive reproductive advantage.

A conserved signaling pathway activates bacterial CBASS immune signaling in response to DNA damage

The paper identifies a conserved signaling pathway in bacteria that activates CBASS immune systems in response to DNA damage through the regulation of CapH and CapP.

cGASylation by a bacterial E1-E2 fusion protein primes antiviral immune signaling

The paper shows that a bacterial E1-E2 fusion protein, Cap2, primes cGAS for antiviral signaling through a process called cGASylation, which increases cGAMP production by ~50-fold.

Control of bacterial immune signaling by a WYL domain transcription factor

The paper identifies CapW, a transcription factor that regulates CBASS gene expression in bacteria, showing it represses the system in uninfected cells and is activated by phage infection, though not required for anti-phage activity.

Structure and mechanism of a cyclic trinucleotide-activated bacterial endonuclease mediating bacteriophage immunity

The paper characterizes NucC, a bacterial endonuclease activated by cyclic tri-AMP to mediate bacteriophage immunity through DNA cleavage or cell death.

HORMA domain proteins and a Pch2-like ATPase regulate bacterial cGAS-like enzymes to mediate bacteriophage immunity

The paper identifies a bacterial immunity pathway involving HORMA domain proteins, a cGAS-like enzyme, and a Pch2-like ATPase that mediates bacteriophage defense by generating a cyclic tri-AMP second messenger.