1546-Bacterial Sense Phage-Induced Genome Degradation
Researchers have identified a bacterial immune mechanism called Metis that detects viral attacks by monitoring host genome destruction. When phages break down bacterial DNA into individual parts, they release a specific methylated mononucleotide known as m6dAMP. This molecule serves as a signal for the Metis system to trigger an abortive infection process, effectively sacrificing the host to prevent the virus from spreading to the rest of the colony. One version of this defense works by depleting NAD+ levels, while another utilizes a membrane-spanning protein to stop viral replication. To…
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