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Reposted by Erin Doherty

Ashley Sullivan @aesully98.bsky.social · 4d

A little late to the Panoptes party, but I’m delighted to share that our paper is published! 👁️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The Panoptes system uses decoy cyclic nucleotides to defend against phage - Nature

The Panoptes antiphage system defends bacteria by detecting phage-encoded counter-defences that sequester cyclic nucleotide signals, triggering membrane disruption and highlighting a broader strategy of sensing immune evasion through second-messenger surveillance.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Erin Doherty

Malcolm White @mfwhite2.bsky.social · 6d

My pleasure @erinedoherty.bsky.social and @benmorehouse.bsky.social - for me this was the stand-out discovery of the last year in the field

Erin Doherty @erinedoherty.bsky.social · 6d

And thanks to @mfwhite2.bsky.social for this great perspective on both works! www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Bacteria use a decoy defence molecule to set a trap for viruses

Some bacterial-infecting viruses use ‘sponges’ to mop up defence molecules, but bacteria can fight back by responding when a sponge captures decoy molecules.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Erin Doherty

Doudna Lab @doudna-lab.bsky.social · 6d

New paper online at @nature.com from co-leads @erinedoherty.bsky.social + @benadler.bsky.social !

Erin Doherty @erinedoherty.bsky.social · 6d

Now online at @nature.com we show how the Panoptes defense system protects against viruses that attempt immune evasion - and expands our understanding of the role of oligonucleotides in immunity.

Check out this work co-led with @benadler.bsky.social here:

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A miniature CRISPR–Cas10 enzyme confers immunity by inhibitory signalling - Nature

Panoptes, an anti-phage defence system against virus-mediated immune suppression, is revealed.

www.nature.com

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Erin Doherty @erinedoherty.bsky.social · 6d

Thanks to this fantastic, interdisciplinary team for making it happen! @benadler.bsky.social, Peter Yoon, Kendall Hsieh, @kenjmloi.bsky.social , Emily Armbruster, @arushi-lahiri.bsky.social , Cydni Bolling, Xander Wilcox, Amogha Akkati, Tony Iavarone, Joe Pogliano, and Jennifer Doudna

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Erin Doherty @erinedoherty.bsky.social · 6d

And thanks to @mfwhite2.bsky.social for this great perspective on both works! www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Bacteria use a decoy defence molecule to set a trap for viruses

Some bacterial-infecting viruses use ‘sponges’ to mop up defence molecules, but bacteria can fight back by responding when a sponge captures decoy molecules.

www.nature.com

1 1 7

Erin Doherty @erinedoherty.bsky.social · 6d

Very excited to see our work appear alongside findings from @aaronwhiteley.bsky.social & @benmorehouse.bsky.social !

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The Panoptes system uses decoy cyclic nucleotides to defend against phage - Nature

The Panoptes antiphage system defends bacteria by detecting phage-encoded counter-defences that sequester cyclic nucleotide signals, triggering membrane disruption and highlighting a broader strategy of sensing immune evasion through second-messenger surveillance.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Erin Doherty

Ben Morehouse @benmorehouse.bsky.social · 6d

Our story describing the Panoptes bacterial immune defense system is now finally peer-reviewed and published today! www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The Panoptes system uses decoy cyclic nucleotides to defend against phage - Nature

The Panoptes antiphage system defends bacteria by detecting phage-encoded counter-defences that sequester cyclic nucleotide signals, triggering membrane disruption and highlighting a broader strategy of sensing immune evasion through second-messenger surveillance.

www.nature.com

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Erin Doherty @erinedoherty.bsky.social · 6d

This also leads to a major constraint for the evolution of viral proteins that inhibit immune signaling, which we explored in recent pre-print co-led with @jnoms.bsky.social

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Divergent viral phosphodiesterases for immune signaling evasion

Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) and other short oligonucleotides play fundamental roles in immune system activation in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans. In response, viruses use phosphodiesterase...

www.biorxiv.org

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Erin Doherty @erinedoherty.bsky.social · 6d

Immune activation upon cyclic oligonucleotide depletion prevents the spread of viruses that attempt immune evasion by depleting host cyclic nucleotides.

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Erin Doherty @erinedoherty.bsky.social · 6d

Now online at @nature.com we show how the Panoptes defense system protects against viruses that attempt immune evasion - and expands our understanding of the role of oligonucleotides in immunity.

Check out this work co-led with @benadler.bsky.social here:

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A miniature CRISPR–Cas10 enzyme confers immunity by inhibitory signalling - Nature

Panoptes, an anti-phage defence system against virus-mediated immune suppression, is revealed.

www.nature.com

2 22 55

Reposted by Erin Doherty

Waggoner Lab @labwaggoner.bsky.social · 6d

Bacteria use a decoy defense molecule to set a trap for viruses @doudna-lab.bsky.social @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social @ucirvine.bsky.social @aaronwhiteley.bsky.social @colorado.edu @aesully98.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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Reposted by Erin Doherty

Ben Adler @benadler.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you to everyone who helped make this story happen!

Obligatory meme to summarize:
“How I imagine phage facing CBASS and mCpol”

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Erin Doherty @erinedoherty.bsky.social · 6d

Meme game is fire as usual

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Reposted by Erin Doherty

Innovative Genomics Institute @innovativegenomics.bsky.social · 6d

Out today in @nature.com, a new paper from @doudna-lab.bsky.social lab, co-first authors @erinedoherty.bsky.social + @benadler.bsky.social and collaborators at @ucsandiego.bsky.social unveils a powerful new defense strategy in the arms war between viruses + microbes. Read here: ow.ly/mPQI50X5g68

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Reposted by Erin Doherty

Vivek Mutalik @vivekmutalik.bsky.social · 6d

Super cool paper by @benadler.bsky.social @erinedoherty.bsky.social

#phage #phagesky

Ben Adler @benadler.bsky.social · 6d

Today in @nature.com , we highlight how a cousin of CRISPR-Cas10, mCpol, establishes an evolutionary trap in anti-phage immune systems.

Check out @erinedoherty.bsky.social and my work from @doudna-lab.bsky.social lab here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A miniature CRISPR–Cas10 enzyme confers immunity by inhibitory signalling - Nature

Panoptes, an anti-phage defence system against virus-mediated immune suppression, is revealed.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Erin Doherty

Jason Nomburg @jnoms.bsky.social · 6d

Huge congrats for such an amazing story, @benadler.bsky.social and @erinedoherty.bsky.social!!

Ben Adler @benadler.bsky.social · 6d

Today in @nature.com , we highlight how a cousin of CRISPR-Cas10, mCpol, establishes an evolutionary trap in anti-phage immune systems.

Check out @erinedoherty.bsky.social and my work from @doudna-lab.bsky.social lab here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A miniature CRISPR–Cas10 enzyme confers immunity by inhibitory signalling - Nature

Panoptes, an anti-phage defence system against virus-mediated immune suppression, is revealed.

www.nature.com

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Erin Doherty @erinedoherty.bsky.social · 6d

Thanks, Jason!!

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Reposted by Erin Doherty

Ben Adler @benadler.bsky.social · 6d

Today in @nature.com , we highlight how a cousin of CRISPR-Cas10, mCpol, establishes an evolutionary trap in anti-phage immune systems.

Check out @erinedoherty.bsky.social and my work from @doudna-lab.bsky.social lab here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A miniature CRISPR–Cas10 enzyme confers immunity by inhibitory signalling - Nature

Panoptes, an anti-phage defence system against virus-mediated immune suppression, is revealed.

www.nature.com

3 54 110

Reposted by Erin Doherty

Doudna Lab @doudna-lab.bsky.social · 7d

Congrats to Doudna lab postdoc @erinedoherty.bsky.social! 🎊

berkeleyMCB @berkeleymcb.bsky.social · 7d

Congrats to our 2025 MCB Outstanding Postdoc Award recipients who are being honored for their excellence in research, leadership, and service! 👏🎉Erin Doherty @erinedoherty.bsky.social, Kevin Eislmayr, Naohiro Kuwayama, & Joseph Lobel
mcb.berkeley.edu/news-and-eve...

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Reposted by Erin Doherty

AAUP @aaup.org · 25d

The AAUP stands in full solidarity w/HBCU faculty, staff, students, admin, & alumni. We call on law enforcement & governmental authorities to treat these threats w/ the seriousness they deserve, investigate thoroughly, hold responsible parties accountable, & strengthen preventive measures on campus.

AAUP Condemns Terrorist Threats to HBCUs

The AAUP condemns unequivocally the recent and recurring bomb and terroristic threats against multiple HBCUs. Threats targeting HBCUs are attacks not only on individuals but on the legacy of resilienc...

www.aaup.org

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Reposted by Erin Doherty

Innovative Genomics Institute @innovativegenomics.bsky.social · Aug 27

Congratulations to IGI's @erinedoherty.bsky.social who has been selected as one of the Berkeley Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellows! 🥂

Erin Doherty @erinedoherty.bsky.social · Aug 24

I'm SO thrilled to share that I was selected as a Berkeley Chancellor's Postdoctoral fellow (!!!)

This program offers mentoring and a hiring incentive to outstanding scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity at the UC.

Current Fellows | Equity & Inclusion

diversity.berkeley.edu

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Reposted by Erin Doherty

Romi Hadary @romihadary.bsky.social · Aug 25

📢 Preprint out!
Together with @reneechang.bsky.social @kranzuschlab.bsky.social and the amazing @soreklab.bsky.social, we explored viral sponges to map their diversity and function.

Discovered huge diversity, including sponges that inhibit Pycsar & Type IV Thoeris!

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Functional diversity of phage sponge proteins that sequester host immune signals

Multiple bacterial immune systems, including CBASS, Thoeris, and Pycsar, employ signaling molecules that activate the immune response following phage infection. Phages counteract bacterial immune sign...

www.biorxiv.org

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Erin Doherty @erinedoherty.bsky.social · Aug 24

A step closer toward my goal of serving as a professor at an R1 institution! Faculty applications set to roll this fall 🎬✨

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Erin Doherty @erinedoherty.bsky.social · Aug 24

I'm SO thrilled to share that I was selected as a Berkeley Chancellor's Postdoctoral fellow (!!!)

This program offers mentoring and a hiring incentive to outstanding scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity at the UC.

Current Fellows | Equity & Inclusion

diversity.berkeley.edu

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Reposted by Erin Doherty

Kranzusch Lab @kranzuschlab.bsky.social · Aug 22

The beautiful, ever-expanding universe of viral proteins targeting nucleotide immune signals!

Paper by @reneechang.bsky.social in @cp-molcell.bsky.social on a nucleotide sponge www.cell.com/molecular-ce...

and preprint by @doudna-lab.bsky.social on viral nucleases www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

A widespread family of viral sponge proteins reveals specific inhibition of nucleotide signals in anti-phage defense

Chang et al. discover anti-CBASS 4 (Acb4), a family of viral sponges that inhibits bacterial immunity by sequestering nucleotide immune signals. Acb4 homologs in phages that infect hosts across all ma...

www.cell.com

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