Jens Hör
@jenshoer.bsky.social
Molecular Principles of RNA Phages | Junior Professor @uni-wuerzburg.de | Group Leader @helmholtz-hiri.bsky.social
Pinned
Jens Hör
@jenshoer.bsky.social
· Sep 4
1.5 million euros for research into “bacterial killers”
ERC Starting Grant awarded to Jens Hör from the Helmholtz Institute Würzburg
www.helmholtz-hiri.de
I'm really happy to have been granted an @erc.europa.eu Starting Grant! We'll study the molecular principles of RNA phages—from infection to replication to bacterial immunity. Interested in joining? Feel free to reach out! Formal job ads to follow.
More info here:
tinyurl.com/RIBO-PHAGE
#ERCStG
More info here:
tinyurl.com/RIBO-PHAGE
#ERCStG
Reposted by Jens Hör
🤯This is wow! Molecular mechanism of mRNA export. by @juliusbrennecke.bsky.social @plaschkalab.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 6, 2025 at 5:20 PM
🤯This is wow! Molecular mechanism of mRNA export. by @juliusbrennecke.bsky.social @plaschkalab.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Jens Hör
🚨New preprint out!
We present a foundational genomic resource of human gut microbiome viruses. It delivers high-quality, deeply curated data spanning taxonomy, predicted hosts, structures, and functions, providing a reference for gut virome research. (1/8)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We present a foundational genomic resource of human gut microbiome viruses. It delivers high-quality, deeply curated data spanning taxonomy, predicted hosts, structures, and functions, providing a reference for gut virome research. (1/8)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 6, 2025 at 5:26 PM
🚨New preprint out!
We present a foundational genomic resource of human gut microbiome viruses. It delivers high-quality, deeply curated data spanning taxonomy, predicted hosts, structures, and functions, providing a reference for gut virome research. (1/8)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We present a foundational genomic resource of human gut microbiome viruses. It delivers high-quality, deeply curated data spanning taxonomy, predicted hosts, structures, and functions, providing a reference for gut virome research. (1/8)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Jens Hör
⏰ The deadline is fast approaching! Only one week left to submit your application at www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...
📢 The #HIRI is looking for a #postdoc & a #PhD student to join the research group of @jenshoer.bsky.social. His lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of #phages with #RNA genomes during infection, host takeover & anti-phage defense. 🧫🦠 More info: www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...
Working at HIRI
At the HIRI, we do not just value excellent research. Short distances, an open door policy, and a good working atmosphere—this is what distinguishes us from others. Have a look at our current job…
www.helmholtz-hiri.de
November 6, 2025 at 10:01 AM
⏰ The deadline is fast approaching! Only one week left to submit your application at www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...
Reposted by Jens Hör
After 5 years of waiting, the new #CRISPR classification by Makarova et al. is out @natmicrobiol.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...
An updated evolutionary classification of CRISPR–Cas systems including rare variants - Nature Microbiology
An exploration of previously undescribed variants from the long tail of the CRISPR–Cas distribution.
www.nature.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:49 PM
After 5 years of waiting, the new #CRISPR classification by Makarova et al. is out @natmicrobiol.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Jens Hör
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 Jens Hör
A membrane-bound nuclease directly cleaves phage DNA during genome injection https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.03.685801v1
November 3, 2025 at 4:16 PM
A membrane-bound nuclease directly cleaves phage DNA during genome injection https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.03.685801v1
Reposted by Jens Hör
Hi everyone, a few years ago, we started a list of labs studying bacterial immunty for students, editors, conference organizers... (currently n=79).
Update time ! Send me a message to 1) add your lab or others 2) Correct info
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
#Phagesky #Microsky
Update time ! Send me a message to 1) add your lab or others 2) Correct info
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
#Phagesky #Microsky
Labs in bacterial immunity
docs.google.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Hi everyone, a few years ago, we started a list of labs studying bacterial immunty for students, editors, conference organizers... (currently n=79).
Update time ! Send me a message to 1) add your lab or others 2) Correct info
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
#Phagesky #Microsky
Update time ! Send me a message to 1) add your lab or others 2) Correct info
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
#Phagesky #Microsky
Reposted by Jens Hör
#microsky #phagesky #phage defence
Novel bacterial ubiquitination-like pathway!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Novel bacterial ubiquitination-like pathway!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Mechanistic basis for protein conjugation in a diverged bacterial ubiquitination pathway - Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
Ye et al. define the structure and mechanisms of a bacterial pathway that performs ubiquitination-like protein conjugation, revealing new insights into the evolution and biological roles of ubiquitina...
www.nature.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:56 PM
#microsky #phagesky #phage defence
Novel bacterial ubiquitination-like pathway!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Novel bacterial ubiquitination-like pathway!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Jens Hör
Last year it was discovered that a single bacterial NLR-like protein can recognize multiple, structurally unrelated phage proteins (Béchon et al, Kibby et al)
Now, a new study shows the same for a plant NLR. Another example how principles of immunity remain conserved from bacteria to eukaryotes
Now, a new study shows the same for a plant NLR. Another example how principles of immunity remain conserved from bacteria to eukaryotes
A wheat NLR conferring broad-spectrum resistance against powdery mildew by recognizing two structurally diverse AVR effectors. Interested? Check out our newest preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Dual recognition of structurally unrelated mildew effectors underlies the broad-spectrum resistance of Pm3e in wheat
Broad-spectrum resistance genes are highly valuable for sustainable crop protection, yet the molecular basis of their activity is often unknown. The Pm3 allelic series in wheat encodes NLR receptors t...
www.biorxiv.org
November 2, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Last year it was discovered that a single bacterial NLR-like protein can recognize multiple, structurally unrelated phage proteins (Béchon et al, Kibby et al)
Now, a new study shows the same for a plant NLR. Another example how principles of immunity remain conserved from bacteria to eukaryotes
Now, a new study shows the same for a plant NLR. Another example how principles of immunity remain conserved from bacteria to eukaryotes
Reposted by Jens Hör
Heard directly about some of the great work being done by Jens at HIRI this week. RNA phages are one element of the powerful biology that has taught us so much about gene regulation, translation and defense mechanisms.
Are you interested in studying RNA phages? We are looking for a PhD student and a postdoc to join the lab!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
📢 The #HIRI is looking for a #postdoc & a #PhD student to join the research group of @jenshoer.bsky.social. His lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of #phages with #RNA genomes during infection, host takeover & anti-phage defense. 🧫🦠 More info: www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...
October 31, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Heard directly about some of the great work being done by Jens at HIRI this week. RNA phages are one element of the powerful biology that has taught us so much about gene regulation, translation and defense mechanisms.
Reposted by Jens Hör
Are you interested in studying RNA phages? We are looking for a PhD student and a postdoc to join the lab!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
📢 The #HIRI is looking for a #postdoc & a #PhD student to join the research group of @jenshoer.bsky.social. His lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of #phages with #RNA genomes during infection, host takeover & anti-phage defense. 🧫🦠 More info: www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...
Working at HIRI
At the HIRI, we do not just value excellent research. Short distances, an open door policy, and a good working atmosphere—this is what distinguishes us from others. Have a look at our current job…
www.helmholtz-hiri.de
October 17, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Are you interested in studying RNA phages? We are looking for a PhD student and a postdoc to join the lab!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
Reposted by Jens Hör
I’m thrilled to share our Retron Eco8 paper published in Molecular Cell today. Thanks all Fu lab members and our collaborators.
👉Phage SSB detection by retron Eco8 msDNA unleashes nuclease-mediated immunity. www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
👉Phage SSB detection by retron Eco8 msDNA unleashes nuclease-mediated immunity. www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
Phage SSB detection by retron Eco8 msDNA unleashes nuclease-mediated immunity
The cryo-EM structure of the retron Eco8 system reveals an autoinhibited 4:4:4 complex
of RT, msDNA, and OLD nuclease. Phage SSB binding to msdDNA unleashes non-specific
nuclease activity to restrict ...
www.cell.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I’m thrilled to share our Retron Eco8 paper published in Molecular Cell today. Thanks all Fu lab members and our collaborators.
👉Phage SSB detection by retron Eco8 msDNA unleashes nuclease-mediated immunity. www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
👉Phage SSB detection by retron Eco8 msDNA unleashes nuclease-mediated immunity. www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
Reposted by Jens Hör
🚨 Last chance!
The Helmholtz Institute Würzburg is offering 2️⃣ JUNIOR GROUP LEADER POSITIONS in RNA BIOLOGY, RNA TECHNOLOGY or RNA MEDICINE. 🧬🧫 💻 ⚕️
The deadline is today, so apply now at www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/e15-groups/
The Helmholtz Institute Würzburg is offering 2️⃣ JUNIOR GROUP LEADER POSITIONS in RNA BIOLOGY, RNA TECHNOLOGY or RNA MEDICINE. 🧬🧫 💻 ⚕️
The deadline is today, so apply now at www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/e15-groups/
E15 Groups
The Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Researchopens a call for
www.helmholtz-hiri.de
October 31, 2025 at 9:58 AM
🚨 Last chance!
The Helmholtz Institute Würzburg is offering 2️⃣ JUNIOR GROUP LEADER POSITIONS in RNA BIOLOGY, RNA TECHNOLOGY or RNA MEDICINE. 🧬🧫 💻 ⚕️
The deadline is today, so apply now at www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/e15-groups/
The Helmholtz Institute Würzburg is offering 2️⃣ JUNIOR GROUP LEADER POSITIONS in RNA BIOLOGY, RNA TECHNOLOGY or RNA MEDICINE. 🧬🧫 💻 ⚕️
The deadline is today, so apply now at www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/e15-groups/
Reposted by Jens Hör
Cool work by @microberna.bsky.social & Kai Papenfort, presenting the first RNA-RNA map in C. crescentus using RIL-seq, revealing an RNA sponge that controls the transition from nutrient abundance to starvation; new insights into RNA networks and stress responses!
#RNA
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#RNA
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
An RNA sponge directs the transition from feast to famine in Caulobacter crescentus - Nature Communications
In bacteria, many small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) associate with the RNA chaperone Hfq to modulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Here, the authors identify global Hfq-mediated RNA-R...
www.nature.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Cool work by @microberna.bsky.social & Kai Papenfort, presenting the first RNA-RNA map in C. crescentus using RIL-seq, revealing an RNA sponge that controls the transition from nutrient abundance to starvation; new insights into RNA networks and stress responses!
#RNA
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#RNA
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Jens Hör
A paper for the #eDNA crowd, in particular those using flies for terrestrial biomonitoring. We show that massive pooling works well, reducing costs + time, bringing us a step closer to scalable terrestrial eDNA biomonitoring. doi.org/10.1002/edn3...
An Exploration of DNA Extraction Methods of Fly iDNA for Scalable Biodiversity Monitoring
Metabarcoding of invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) is an excellent tool for assessing terrestrial mammal diversity, but the time and costs associated with sample processing constrain its wider adoption....
doi.org
October 30, 2025 at 11:47 AM
A paper for the #eDNA crowd, in particular those using flies for terrestrial biomonitoring. We show that massive pooling works well, reducing costs + time, bringing us a step closer to scalable terrestrial eDNA biomonitoring. doi.org/10.1002/edn3...
Reposted by Jens Hör
Antiviral Defence is a Conserved Function of Diverse DNA Glycosylases https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.29.685425v1
October 30, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Antiviral Defence is a Conserved Function of Diverse DNA Glycosylases https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.29.685425v1
Reposted by Jens Hör
🚨 The clock is ticking! ⏰
Applications close tomorrow. Don't miss your chance to apply: www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/e15-groups/
Applications close tomorrow. Don't miss your chance to apply: www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/e15-groups/
🚨 The #HIRI invites applications for 2 JUNIOR GROUP LEADER POSITIONS in the areas of:
🔵 RNA Biology
🔵 RNA Medicine
🔵 RNA Technology
Apply by October 31 at www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...
Find an overview in this thread. 🧵👇
(1/6)
🔵 RNA Biology
🔵 RNA Medicine
🔵 RNA Technology
Apply by October 31 at www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...
Find an overview in this thread. 🧵👇
(1/6)
E15 Groups
The Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Researchopens a call for
www.helmholtz-hiri.de
October 30, 2025 at 11:02 AM
🚨 The clock is ticking! ⏰
Applications close tomorrow. Don't miss your chance to apply: www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/e15-groups/
Applications close tomorrow. Don't miss your chance to apply: www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/e15-groups/
Reposted by Jens Hör
@prczhaoyansong.bsky.social’s deep dive into the dark matter of compost communities is now out 🎉 Genomic islands hijack jumbo phages—whose capsids enable transfer of large tracts of DNA—shedding new light on the scale & scope of phage-mediated gene flow 😎
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Jumbo phage–mediated transduction of genomic islands | PNAS
Bacteria acquire new genes by horizontal gene transfer, typically mediated by mobile
genetic elements (MGEs). While plasmids, bacteriophages, and c...
www.pnas.org
October 28, 2025 at 6:36 PM
@prczhaoyansong.bsky.social’s deep dive into the dark matter of compost communities is now out 🎉 Genomic islands hijack jumbo phages—whose capsids enable transfer of large tracts of DNA—shedding new light on the scale & scope of phage-mediated gene flow 😎
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Jens Hör
🚨 The #HIRI invites applications for 2 JUNIOR GROUP LEADER POSITIONS in the areas of:
🔵 RNA Biology
🔵 RNA Medicine
🔵 RNA Technology
Apply by October 31 at www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...
Find an overview in this thread. 🧵👇
(1/6)
🔵 RNA Biology
🔵 RNA Medicine
🔵 RNA Technology
Apply by October 31 at www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...
Find an overview in this thread. 🧵👇
(1/6)
E15 Groups
The Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Researchopens a call for
www.helmholtz-hiri.de
October 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM
🚨 The #HIRI invites applications for 2 JUNIOR GROUP LEADER POSITIONS in the areas of:
🔵 RNA Biology
🔵 RNA Medicine
🔵 RNA Technology
Apply by October 31 at www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...
Find an overview in this thread. 🧵👇
(1/6)
🔵 RNA Biology
🔵 RNA Medicine
🔵 RNA Technology
Apply by October 31 at www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...
Find an overview in this thread. 🧵👇
(1/6)
Reposted by Jens Hör
🚨 A fantastic opportunity to join HIRI to start your research group on RNA Biology 👇 www.nature.com/naturecareer...
Junior Group Leader for RNA-Biology, RNA-Technology or RNA-Medicine (f/m/d) - Würzburg (Stadt), Bayern (DE) job with Helmholtz-Institut für RNA-basierte Infektionsforschung (HIRI) | 12844907
#RNAexcellence Junior Group Leader Positions (f/m/d) Job advertisement no.: 089/2025 Starting date: As soon as possible. The con...
www.nature.com
October 27, 2025 at 9:55 PM
🚨 A fantastic opportunity to join HIRI to start your research group on RNA Biology 👇 www.nature.com/naturecareer...
Reposted by Jens Hör
How to become a "hot RNA" 🌡️? The answers were kindly provided by hyperthermophilic archaea: rRNA modifications are key! Check out this new publication presenting pan-modification profiling of the epitranscriptome. www.cell.com/cell/fulltex.... (1/3)
Pan-modification profiling facilitates a cross-evolutionary dissection of the thermoregulated ribosomal epitranscriptome
Pan-Mod-seq enables systematic, multi-modification mapping of rRNA across life. Applying
it to diverse organisms reveals that hyperthermophiles dynamically install stabilizing
modifications to support...
www.cell.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:19 PM
How to become a "hot RNA" 🌡️? The answers were kindly provided by hyperthermophilic archaea: rRNA modifications are key! Check out this new publication presenting pan-modification profiling of the epitranscriptome. www.cell.com/cell/fulltex.... (1/3)
Reposted by Jens Hör
New article alert: Bacterial TIR-based immune systems sense phage capsids to initiate defense
Out now in Nature Microbiology by Cameron G. Roberts, Chloe B. Fishman, Zhiying Zhang, Dalton V. Banh, Dinshaw J. Patel & Luciano A. Marraffini
#microsky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Out now in Nature Microbiology by Cameron G. Roberts, Chloe B. Fishman, Zhiying Zhang, Dalton V. Banh, Dinshaw J. Patel & Luciano A. Marraffini
#microsky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Bacterial TIR-based immune systems sense phage capsids to initiate defense - Nature Microbiology
After sensing capsids, the Thoeris antiphage defense system triggers a cascade that leads to NAD+ cleavage and cell arrest, which are dynamics that are mirrored in some mammalian immune pathways.
www.nature.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:23 PM
New article alert: Bacterial TIR-based immune systems sense phage capsids to initiate defense
Out now in Nature Microbiology by Cameron G. Roberts, Chloe B. Fishman, Zhiying Zhang, Dalton V. Banh, Dinshaw J. Patel & Luciano A. Marraffini
#microsky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Out now in Nature Microbiology by Cameron G. Roberts, Chloe B. Fishman, Zhiying Zhang, Dalton V. Banh, Dinshaw J. Patel & Luciano A. Marraffini
#microsky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Jens Hör
Bacterial telomeres are common, just not so much in RefSeq 'complete' genomes. But they can be added by the new tool David Faurdal wrote. I am thrilled to see this out as a preprint here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... @tilmweber.bsky.social @thombooth.bsky.social
October 15, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Bacterial telomeres are common, just not so much in RefSeq 'complete' genomes. But they can be added by the new tool David Faurdal wrote. I am thrilled to see this out as a preprint here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... @tilmweber.bsky.social @thombooth.bsky.social
Reposted by Jens Hör
Now published in PLOS Biology! We found new retron containing bacteria in the wild, figured out defense mechanisms, and turned them into genome editors. From a cupful of dirt to new parts for genome editing in one story! journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
October 23, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Now published in PLOS Biology! We found new retron containing bacteria in the wild, figured out defense mechanisms, and turned them into genome editors. From a cupful of dirt to new parts for genome editing in one story! journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Reposted by Jens Hör
Been working on a really strange retron bacterial immune system, here's the preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Type VI retrons are unlike any other. Phage infection triggers reverse transcription of a DNA fragment that activates translation of a toxin to kill the infected cell.
Type VI retrons are unlike any other. Phage infection triggers reverse transcription of a DNA fragment that activates translation of a toxin to kill the infected cell.
October 23, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Been working on a really strange retron bacterial immune system, here's the preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Type VI retrons are unlike any other. Phage infection triggers reverse transcription of a DNA fragment that activates translation of a toxin to kill the infected cell.
Type VI retrons are unlike any other. Phage infection triggers reverse transcription of a DNA fragment that activates translation of a toxin to kill the infected cell.