Joseph P. Gerdt

Balancing of immune activation and suppression during phage infection

The paper shows how phages evade bacterial immune systems by using allelic variation and an anti-defense hotspot, revealing a similarity to a human protein.

Chemical inhibition of a CBASS anti-bacteriophage defense

The paper identifies small-molecule inhibitors of the bacterial CBASS defense system to enhance phage therapy by blocking Cap5 activity.

Chemical inactivation of a bacterial immune system de-domesticates a temperate phage and promotes its spread

The paper identifies chemical inhibitors of SpbK, an antiphage defense system in Bacillus subtilis, showing they promote phage dissemination and reveal mechanisms of inhibiting TIR-domain enzymes.

Chemical suppression of a bacterial immune system revives repressed phages

The paper identifies small molecule inhibitors of the Thoeris antiphage immune system in bacteria, showing that persistent immunity is required to prevent phage revival and population collapse.

Exogenous lipid vesicles induce endocytosis-mediated cellular aggregation in a close unicellular relative of animals

The paper identifies lipid cues and endocytosis as key drivers of aggregation in Capsaspora owczarzaki, shedding light on evolutionary mechanisms and parasite transmission.

Filament formation is a conserved mechanism of Thoeris SIR2 effector activation

This study shows that 3'cADPR-induced SIR2 filament formation activates ThsA effectors in type I Thoeris systems across bacterial species.

Chemical inhibition of a bacterial immune system

This study identifies chemical inhibitors that block a bacterial immune system, enhancing phage therapy efficacy against resistant strains.

A close unicellular relative reveals aggregative multicellularity was key to the evolution of animals

The paper investigates aggregation in a unicellular relative of animals, finding that it uses genes involved in animal multicellularity, suggesting aggregation was key to animal evolution.

Chemokinesis by a microbial predator

This paper investigates chemokinesis in Capsaspora owczarzaki, showing it responds to prey-derived proteins and cell density, and develops a model suggesting chemokinesis enhances predation when combined with chemotaxis.

Systems genetics uncovers microbe-lipid-host connections in the murine gut

This study identifies genetic links between gut microbiota, lipids, and host transcripts in mice, revealing key roles for Akkermansia muciniphila and ornithine lipids in microbe-host interactions.