Viral enzyme cuts bacterial sensor protein, triggering defense against invading phages
In the fight to find better treatments for bacterial infections, one rapidly evolving therapy uses a group of viruses called bacteriophages (phages). Phages can attack and kill dangerous bacteria while leaving human cells unharmed and bypassing antibiotic resistance.
Scientists have discovered that bacteria detect viruses by using a viral enzyme to cut an important sensor molecule in the bacterium. This triggers an immune response, known as CBASS, which helps the bacterium defend itself against invading phages. The research paves the way for better phage therapies that can evade the bacterial immune system.
This discovery is particularly significant because it reveals a novel mechanism for how host proteins are activated, distinct from related antiviral immune pathways that detect viral genetic material. Understanding this mechanism could also advance our knowledge of the human immune system, as CBASS is related to a similar pathway in humans, suggesting that this pathway has persisted since bacteria and humans shared a common ancestor.
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