Structural and functional understanding of bacterial defense and viral counter defense

Montana State University - Bozeman, Bozeman MT

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Project Summary Viruses that infect bacteria and archaea are the most diverse and abundant biological agents on the planet. The selective pressures imposed by these ubiquitous viral predators has a profound impact on the composition and the behavior of microbial communities in every ecological setting. To fight off these viral predators, microbes have evolved diverse defense mechanisms to protect themselves from viral infections. Despite the rapid progress in this still nascent field, there are still many blind spots in our basic understanding of bacterial immunology and the relationship of these immune systems to those preserved in eukaryotes. The intent of this supplemental is to solicit funds to replace our current liquid chromatography system. This system is now out of service. The new liquid chromatography system will be used to support projects aimed at using biochemical and structural methods to understand bacterial immune systems and the relationship of these systems to the immune systems in eukaryotes.