Nathalie Bechon
@nbechon.bsky.social
Post-doc @soreklab.bsky.social on bacterial immune system. Bacteria stick together, why can't we?
My second story in Futures! So proud 🥳
There had been better days. Days away from this planet. When life was simpler and the what he was hadn’t mattered. But now, no one seemed to care that all he wanted was to put down some roots and enjoy being.
#scifi by Nathalie Béchon www.nature.com/articles/d41...
#scifi by Nathalie Béchon www.nature.com/articles/d41...
December 18, 2025 at 9:56 AM
My second story in Futures! So proud 🥳
Reposted by Nathalie Bechon
#NewResearch
Engineered Escherichia coli strains expressing a colibactin antitoxin, ClbS, on the surface prevent the genotoxic effects of colibactin released by genotoxin-producing bacteria in the mouse gut.
#MicroSky #SynBio 🦠🧬🔧
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Engineered Escherichia coli strains expressing a colibactin antitoxin, ClbS, on the surface prevent the genotoxic effects of colibactin released by genotoxin-producing bacteria in the mouse gut.
#MicroSky #SynBio 🦠🧬🔧
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Surface expression of antitoxin on engineered bacteria neutralizes genotoxic colibactin in the gut - Nature Microbiology
Engineered Escherichia coli strains expressing a colibactin antitoxin, ClbS, on the surface prevent the genotoxic effects of colibactin released by genotoxin-producing bacteria in the mouse gut.
www.nature.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:30 PM
#NewResearch
Engineered Escherichia coli strains expressing a colibactin antitoxin, ClbS, on the surface prevent the genotoxic effects of colibactin released by genotoxin-producing bacteria in the mouse gut.
#MicroSky #SynBio 🦠🧬🔧
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Engineered Escherichia coli strains expressing a colibactin antitoxin, ClbS, on the surface prevent the genotoxic effects of colibactin released by genotoxin-producing bacteria in the mouse gut.
#MicroSky #SynBio 🦠🧬🔧
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Nathalie Bechon
✨New preprint!
🧵1/4 Excited to share our work on AI-guided design of minimal RNA-guided nucleases. Amazing work by @petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @evandeturk.bsky.social et al!
Multi-lab collaboration @banfieldlab.bsky.social @jhdcate.bsky.social @jacobsenucla.bsky.social🧬
🔗👇
🧵1/4 Excited to share our work on AI-guided design of minimal RNA-guided nucleases. Amazing work by @petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @evandeturk.bsky.social et al!
Multi-lab collaboration @banfieldlab.bsky.social @jhdcate.bsky.social @jacobsenucla.bsky.social🧬
🔗👇
December 9, 2025 at 7:52 AM
✨New preprint!
🧵1/4 Excited to share our work on AI-guided design of minimal RNA-guided nucleases. Amazing work by @petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @evandeturk.bsky.social et al!
Multi-lab collaboration @banfieldlab.bsky.social @jhdcate.bsky.social @jacobsenucla.bsky.social🧬
🔗👇
🧵1/4 Excited to share our work on AI-guided design of minimal RNA-guided nucleases. Amazing work by @petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @evandeturk.bsky.social et al!
Multi-lab collaboration @banfieldlab.bsky.social @jhdcate.bsky.social @jacobsenucla.bsky.social🧬
🔗👇
Reposted by Nathalie Bechon
I’m happy to share our new preprint! We uncovered the full diversity of bacterial TIR-based antiviral immune signaling, massively expanded the known diversity of Thoeris systems, and revealed conservation of TIR-derived immune signals across the tree of life.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Systematic discovery of TIR-based immune signaling systems in bacteria
Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domains are important for immune signaling across humans, plants and bacteria. These domains were recently found to produce immune signaling molecules in plant immuni...
www.biorxiv.org
December 4, 2025 at 9:25 AM
I’m happy to share our new preprint! We uncovered the full diversity of bacterial TIR-based antiviral immune signaling, massively expanded the known diversity of Thoeris systems, and revealed conservation of TIR-derived immune signals across the tree of life.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Nathalie Bechon
📢 We have multiple open PhD positions to study bacterial immune systems using cutting-edge cryo-EM, microbiology, and biochemistry in our group! Join us and uncover how bacterial defenses eliminate predators and engineer next-gen biotech tools.
🔥 Apply by Jan 8, 2026
Details: phd.pages.ista.ac.at
🔥 Apply by Jan 8, 2026
Details: phd.pages.ista.ac.at
phd.pages.ista.ac.at
December 2, 2025 at 8:44 AM
📢 We have multiple open PhD positions to study bacterial immune systems using cutting-edge cryo-EM, microbiology, and biochemistry in our group! Join us and uncover how bacterial defenses eliminate predators and engineer next-gen biotech tools.
🔥 Apply by Jan 8, 2026
Details: phd.pages.ista.ac.at
🔥 Apply by Jan 8, 2026
Details: phd.pages.ista.ac.at
Reposted by Nathalie Bechon
Bacteria can sense when a virus starts shredding their genome — by detecting methylated mononucleotides.
Here’s the story of how we discovered the Metis defense system 👇
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Here’s the story of how we discovered the Metis defense system 👇
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Bacteria can sense when a virus starts shredding their genome — by detecting methylated mononucleotides.
Here’s the story of how we discovered the Metis defense system 👇
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Here’s the story of how we discovered the Metis defense system 👇
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Nathalie Bechon
Preprint: De-novo design of proteins that inhibit bacterial defenses
Our approach allows silencing defense systems of choice. We show how this approach enables programming of “untransformable” bacteria, and how it can enhance phage therapy applications
Congrats Jeremy Garb!
tinyurl.com/Syttt
🧵
Our approach allows silencing defense systems of choice. We show how this approach enables programming of “untransformable” bacteria, and how it can enhance phage therapy applications
Congrats Jeremy Garb!
tinyurl.com/Syttt
🧵
Synthetically designed anti-defense proteins overcome barriers to bacterial transformation and phage infection
Bacterial defense systems present considerable barriers to both phage infection and plasmid transformation. These systems target mobile genetic elements, limiting the efficacy of bacteriophage-based t...
www.biorxiv.org
September 2, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Preprint: De-novo design of proteins that inhibit bacterial defenses
Our approach allows silencing defense systems of choice. We show how this approach enables programming of “untransformable” bacteria, and how it can enhance phage therapy applications
Congrats Jeremy Garb!
tinyurl.com/Syttt
🧵
Our approach allows silencing defense systems of choice. We show how this approach enables programming of “untransformable” bacteria, and how it can enhance phage therapy applications
Congrats Jeremy Garb!
tinyurl.com/Syttt
🧵
Reposted by Nathalie Bechon
📢 New preprint alert!
We designed synthetic proteins that can block bacterial immune systems, allowing phages + plasmids to overcome natural defenses.
This could transform phage therapy + genetic engineering.
Here’s what we found 🧵
Preprint🔗: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We designed synthetic proteins that can block bacterial immune systems, allowing phages + plasmids to overcome natural defenses.
This could transform phage therapy + genetic engineering.
Here’s what we found 🧵
Preprint🔗: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Synthetically designed anti-defense proteins overcome barriers to bacterial transformation and phage infection
Bacterial defense systems present considerable barriers to both phage infection and plasmid transformation. These systems target mobile genetic elements, limiting the efficacy of bacteriophage-based t...
www.biorxiv.org
September 2, 2025 at 7:36 AM
📢 New preprint alert!
We designed synthetic proteins that can block bacterial immune systems, allowing phages + plasmids to overcome natural defenses.
This could transform phage therapy + genetic engineering.
Here’s what we found 🧵
Preprint🔗: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We designed synthetic proteins that can block bacterial immune systems, allowing phages + plasmids to overcome natural defenses.
This could transform phage therapy + genetic engineering.
Here’s what we found 🧵
Preprint🔗: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Nathalie Bechon
📢 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...
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
August 25, 2025 at 10:58 AM
📢 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...
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...
Reposted by Nathalie Bechon
📢Preprint out!
Excited to share my final work from the @soreklab.bsky.social!
We mined phage dark matter using structural features shared by anti-defense proteins (viral tools that help phages bypass bacterial immunity) to guide discovery.
Found 3 new families targeting immune signaling!
Excited to share my final work from the @soreklab.bsky.social!
We mined phage dark matter using structural features shared by anti-defense proteins (viral tools that help phages bypass bacterial immunity) to guide discovery.
Found 3 new families targeting immune signaling!
July 13, 2025 at 7:49 AM
📢Preprint out!
Excited to share my final work from the @soreklab.bsky.social!
We mined phage dark matter using structural features shared by anti-defense proteins (viral tools that help phages bypass bacterial immunity) to guide discovery.
Found 3 new families targeting immune signaling!
Excited to share my final work from the @soreklab.bsky.social!
We mined phage dark matter using structural features shared by anti-defense proteins (viral tools that help phages bypass bacterial immunity) to guide discovery.
Found 3 new families targeting immune signaling!
Reposted by Nathalie Bechon
🫴 Wow: A bacterial reverse transcriptase synthesizes long poly-A–rich cDNA for anti phage defense:
👇👇👇
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
👇👇👇
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Bacterial reverse transcriptase synthesizes long poly-A–rich cDNA for antiphage defense
Prokaryotic defense-associated reverse transcriptases (DRTs) were recently identified with antiviral functions; however, their functional mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Here we show that DRT9 f...
www.science.org
May 21, 2025 at 3:26 AM
🫴 Wow: A bacterial reverse transcriptase synthesizes long poly-A–rich cDNA for anti phage defense:
👇👇👇
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
👇👇👇
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Nathalie Bechon
Le MMSB propose une mobilité NOEMI
Rejoignez l'équipe "Ecologie et Évolution Moléculaire des Phages" qui travaille sur les éléments génétiques mobiles et l'immunité bactérienne. Profil Génétique bactérienne, Écologie microbienne et Evolution expérimentale
🤝Contactez-nous pour rejoindre notre unité!
Rejoignez l'équipe "Ecologie et Évolution Moléculaire des Phages" qui travaille sur les éléments génétiques mobiles et l'immunité bactérienne. Profil Génétique bactérienne, Écologie microbienne et Evolution expérimentale
🤝Contactez-nous pour rejoindre notre unité!
MMSB – Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry
mmsb.cnrs.fr
May 14, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Le MMSB propose une mobilité NOEMI
Rejoignez l'équipe "Ecologie et Évolution Moléculaire des Phages" qui travaille sur les éléments génétiques mobiles et l'immunité bactérienne. Profil Génétique bactérienne, Écologie microbienne et Evolution expérimentale
🤝Contactez-nous pour rejoindre notre unité!
Rejoignez l'équipe "Ecologie et Évolution Moléculaire des Phages" qui travaille sur les éléments génétiques mobiles et l'immunité bactérienne. Profil Génétique bactérienne, Écologie microbienne et Evolution expérimentale
🤝Contactez-nous pour rejoindre notre unité!
Reposted by Nathalie Bechon
A new preprint from the lab in collaboration with Feng Jiang.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
This is a thread for you if you're interested in secretion systems, phages, and evolution.
The extracellular contractile injection system (eCIS) is a mysterious microbial toxin delivery system.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
This is a thread for you if you're interested in secretion systems, phages, and evolution.
The extracellular contractile injection system (eCIS) is a mysterious microbial toxin delivery system.
May 14, 2025 at 11:14 AM
A new preprint from the lab in collaboration with Feng Jiang.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
This is a thread for you if you're interested in secretion systems, phages, and evolution.
The extracellular contractile injection system (eCIS) is a mysterious microbial toxin delivery system.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
This is a thread for you if you're interested in secretion systems, phages, and evolution.
The extracellular contractile injection system (eCIS) is a mysterious microbial toxin delivery system.
Reposted by Nathalie Bechon
White smoke, we have a new pope and also 16 new anti-phages systems in sedentary integrons (SCIs) !
In collaboration with the Rocha lab, we show in our new paper that cassettes of these large platforms encode many known anti-phage defenses, and uncovered 16 new ones.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
In collaboration with the Rocha lab, we show in our new paper that cassettes of these large platforms encode many known anti-phage defenses, and uncovered 16 new ones.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Sedentary chromosomal integrons as biobanks of bacterial antiphage defense systems
Integrons are genetic systems that drive bacterial adaptation by acquiring, expressing, and shuffling gene cassettes. While mobile integrons are well known for spreading antibiotic resistance genes, t...
www.science.org
May 9, 2025 at 11:41 AM
White smoke, we have a new pope and also 16 new anti-phages systems in sedentary integrons (SCIs) !
In collaboration with the Rocha lab, we show in our new paper that cassettes of these large platforms encode many known anti-phage defenses, and uncovered 16 new ones.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
In collaboration with the Rocha lab, we show in our new paper that cassettes of these large platforms encode many known anti-phage defenses, and uncovered 16 new ones.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Nathalie Bechon
A minimal CRISPR polymerase produces decoy cyclic nucleotides to detect phage anti-defense proteins https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.03.28.646047v1
March 31, 2025 at 2:17 AM
A minimal CRISPR polymerase produces decoy cyclic nucleotides to detect phage anti-defense proteins https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.03.28.646047v1
Reposted by Nathalie Bechon
Big Fantastic Virus Database (BFVD) version 2 improves 31% of predictions through 12 ColabFold recycles. PAEs and MSAs now also available for download and in the webserver.
🌐https://bfvd.foldseek.com
💾https://bfvd.steineggerlab.workers.dev/
1/3
🌐https://bfvd.foldseek.com
💾https://bfvd.steineggerlab.workers.dev/
1/3
March 31, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Big Fantastic Virus Database (BFVD) version 2 improves 31% of predictions through 12 ColabFold recycles. PAEs and MSAs now also available for download and in the webserver.
🌐https://bfvd.foldseek.com
💾https://bfvd.steineggerlab.workers.dev/
1/3
🌐https://bfvd.foldseek.com
💾https://bfvd.steineggerlab.workers.dev/
1/3