Seminar: Adventures with Phages and CRISPR
Abstract: Research in the Davidson lab is focused on phages and bacterial immune systems that protect against phage infection. I will discuss CRISPR-Cas systems and how phages defend themselves against these systems. I will also describe recent structural and functional work on F-pyocins, bactericidal agents produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. F-pyocins are closely related to non-contractile phage tails. We have discovered that the killing mechanism of F-pyocins involves a dramatic conformational transition of a 160 amino acid region from an alpha-helical coiled-coil to a beta-prism. This transition likely provides energy allowing the F-pyocin to puncture the bacterial cell membrane.
LSC 3 (Life Sciences Institute - 2350 Health Sciences Mall) MBIM itsupport@microbiology.ubc.ca America/Vancouver publicSeminar: Adventures with Phages and CRISPR
Abstract: Research in the Davidson lab is focused on phages and bacterial immune systems that protect against phage infection. I will discuss CRISPR-Cas systems and how phages defend themselves against these systems. I will also describe recent structural and functional work on F-pyocins, bactericidal agents produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. F-pyocins are closely related to non-contractile phage tails. We have discovered that the killing mechanism of F-pyocins involves a dramatic conformational transition of a 160 amino acid region from an alpha-helical coiled-coil to a beta-prism. This transition likely provides energy allowing the F-pyocin to puncture the bacterial cell membrane.