Ruiliang Zhao

This study defines the structure and mechanism of retron type IX, revealing how its DNA-scaffolded ring assembly mediates antiphage immunity through phage-encoded nuclease-triggered activation.

The paper describes a non-canonical mechanism in Type VI retrons where reverse transcribed ssDNA derepresses translation of an antiviral toxin, providing phage defense without detectable msDNA.

The paper identifies a bacterial anti-phage system that uses nucleobase modification to generate immune messengers, leading to population-level defense through infected cell death.