Juntao Zhang

This study identifies DRT4 as a dual-sensor immune system that uses phage-derived signals to activate an RNA-targeting reverse transcriptase for anti-phage defense.

This study shows DRT7, a reverse transcriptase-primase, generates protein-templated DNA to provide broad-spectrum antiviral immunity through abortive infection.

This study reveals the molecular mechanism of Retron-Eco8 immunity by determining cryo-EM structures of the system in inactive and activated states, showing how phage SSB triggers nuclease activation and cell death.

This paper develops a method to create stiffness gradients in alginate hydrogels using stencils, enabling the study of mechanosensitive cell behaviors like cancer cell invasion.