Landon Getz
@landongetz.bsky.social
PostDoc in The Maxwell Lab at the University of Toronto. PhD. CIHR and EPIC-GSK Postdoctoral Fellow. | He/Him 🏳️🌈 Co-Founder of Pride in Microbiology | Saamis(Prairies) ➡️ Kjipuktuk(Halifax) ➡️ Tkaronto(Toronto).
TL;DR: glycosylases constitute a mobile and evolvable layer of antiviral immunity in bacteria. They contribute to the virus-host arms race by specifically targeting anti-restriction counter-defence in phages (DNA modification). Take a look and let us know what you think! 🧪 #phagesky #phage
October 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Finally, we extended this structural search to include previously described antiphage glycosylase Brig1, and identified what we are calling Brig2: a non-canonical thymidine-targeting DNA glycosylase!
October 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Finally, we extended this structural search to include previously described antiphage glycosylase Brig1, and identified what we are calling Brig2: a non-canonical thymidine-targeting DNA glycosylase!
Importantly these protein families are extremely sequence diverse (often less than 20% sequence identity), cluster independently in sequence space, and are extremely mobile: they are found in a variety of bacterial phyla, often associated with mobile genetic elements!
October 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Importantly these protein families are extremely sequence diverse (often less than 20% sequence identity), cluster independently in sequence space, and are extremely mobile: they are found in a variety of bacterial phyla, often associated with mobile genetic elements!
To holistically identify Dag proteins (and avoid common pitfalls of sequence-based approaches) we used ESM3 (@evolutionaryscale.bsky.social) and FoldSeek (@martinsteinegger.bsky.social) on >1000 integrons using Dag1/2 as queries. We identified a total of 17 Dag families that confer phage defence.
October 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
To holistically identify Dag proteins (and avoid common pitfalls of sequence-based approaches) we used ESM3 (@evolutionaryscale.bsky.social) and FoldSeek (@martinsteinegger.bsky.social) on >1000 integrons using Dag1/2 as queries. We identified a total of 17 Dag families that confer phage defence.
We show that these enzymes, which we now call defence-associated glycosylases (Dag1/Dag2) target modified G-bases in phage DNA, and degrade phage genomes. In an interesting evolutionary trade-off, escaper phages drop the modification to survive and become restriction-senstitive in the process!
October 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
We show that these enzymes, which we now call defence-associated glycosylases (Dag1/Dag2) target modified G-bases in phage DNA, and degrade phage genomes. In an interesting evolutionary trade-off, escaper phages drop the modification to survive and become restriction-senstitive in the process!
We previously identified two defence systems (VP1840/VP1796) that structurally resembled archaeal DNA glycosylases in the chromosomal integrons of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. One integron carrying two of these intrigued us, so we explored them in more detail! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Integrons are anti-phage defence libraries in Vibrio parahaemolyticus - Nature Microbiology
Integrons are genetic elements that capture and store gene cassettes in Vibrio species. Bioinformatic and molecular techniques show that these regions can be hotspots of phage defence systems.
www.nature.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
We previously identified two defence systems (VP1840/VP1796) that structurally resembled archaeal DNA glycosylases in the chromosomal integrons of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. One integron carrying two of these intrigued us, so we explored them in more detail! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Congratulations to the organizing committee, especially Adnane Sellam, Frédérique Le Roux and Marylise Duperthuy, for hosting an impactful event. Thanks to CSM, U de M, sponsors, session chairs, and attendees for making this conference memorable (as always!)
June 23, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Congratulations to the organizing committee, especially Adnane Sellam, Frédérique Le Roux and Marylise Duperthuy, for hosting an impactful event. Thanks to CSM, U de M, sponsors, session chairs, and attendees for making this conference memorable (as always!)