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Publication Abstract from PubMed

Jumbo bacteriophages of the varphiKZ-like family assemble a lipid-based early phage infection (EPI) vesicle and a proteinaceous nucleus-like structure during infection. These structures protect the phage from nucleases and may create selective pressure for immunity mechanisms targeting this specific phage family. Here, we identify "jumbo phage killer" (Juk), a two-component immune system that terminates infection of varphiKZ-like phages, suppressing the expression of early phage genes and preventing phage DNA replication and phage nucleus assembly while saving the cell. JukA (formerly YaaW) rapidly senses the EPI vesicle by binding to an early-expressed phage protein, gp241, and then directly recruits JukB. The JukB effector structurally resembles a pore-forming toxin and destabilizes the EPI vesicle. Functional anti-varphiKZ JukA homologs are found across bacterial phyla, associated with diverse effectors. These findings reveal a widespread defense system that specifically targets early events executed by varphiKZ-like jumbo phages prior to phage nucleus assembly.

Jumbo phage killer immune system targets early infection of nucleus-forming phages.,Yuping L, Guan L, Becher I, Makarova KS, Cao X, Hareendranath S, Guan J, Stein F, Yang S, Boergel A, Lapouge K, Remans K, Agard D, Savitski M, Typas A, Koonin EV, Feng Y, Bondy-Denomy J Cell. 2025 Mar 18:S0092-8674(25)00201-6. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.02.016. PMID:40112800^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.