2023 - 10 - 01 - We are excited to help host the 2024 Symposium on the Immune System of Bacteria at Harvard Medical School.

2023 - 09 - 07 - Our paper together with the Pichlmair lab on new 2′–5′ oligoadenylate-binding proteins is published in JGV.

• Congratulations to Apurva, Aleksandra, and all of the co-authors from our labs.

• Manuscript: "RNase L-activating 2′–5′ oligoadenylates bind ABCF1, ABCF3, and Decr-1"

• View our new structure of the mDecr-1–2′–5′ OA complex: PDB 7UCW

2023 - 09 - 05 - Laurentia Tjang from HMS Virology starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2023 - 09 - 01 - Our paper together with the Imler and Cai labs on cGLR2 in Drosophila antiviral immunity is published in Immunity.

• Congratulations to Hua, Lihua, Kailey, and all of the co-authors from each lab.

• Manuscript: "The virus-induced cyclic dinucleotide 2′3′-c-di-GMP mediates STING-dependent antiviral immunity in Drosophila"

• Read highlights of our work:

• "A universe of second messengers for cGLR-STING signaling" (Xubiao Wei and Conggang Zhang, in Immunity)

2023 - 07 - 06 - Bianca Tiwari starts in the lab as a summer student with the CURE program.

2023 - 07 - 03 - Renee Chang joins the lab for her dissertation research.

2023 - 06 - 27 - Our paper on the discovery of cGLRs as a diverse family of pattern recognition receptors is published in Cell.

• Congratulations to Yao, all of the co-authors from our lab, our collaborators in the Guo, Mass, Sebé-Pedrós labs, and at Biolog.

• Manuscript: "cGLRs are a diverse family of pattern recognition receptors in animal innate immunity"

• View our new structures of cGLRs and STING–CDN complexes: PDB 8EFM, 8EFN, 8GJY, 8GJW, 8GJZ, 8GJX

• Read highlights of our work:

• "Innate immune sensing by cGAS-STING in animals reveals unexpected messengers" (Leonie Unterholzner, in Cell)

• "The diversity of cGLR receptors: shedding new light on innate immunity" (Jessica Metcalf and Alexander Downie, in Trends in Immunology)

• "cGAS-like receptors: back to the future" (Fiachra Humphries, in Trends in Immunology)

• "Thousands of cGAS-like receptors described in animals" (Yvonne Bordon, in Nature Reviews Immunology)

2023 - 04 - 21 - Kailey successfully defends her thesis research, congratulations Dr. Slavik!.

2023 - 04 - 20 - Ady Ragucci joins the lab for her dissertation research.

2023 - 04 - 19 - Joel Tan joins the lab for his dissertation research.

2023 - 04 - 18 - Sonomi Yamaguchi wins a fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

2023 - 04 - 17 - Sonomi Yamaguchi starts in the lab as a postdoctoral fellow.

2023 - 03 - 20 - Ady Ragucci from HMS BBS starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2023 - 03 - 13 - Zhixing Ma from HMS BBS starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2023 - 02 - 09 - Our paper in collaboration with the Sorek Lab on RADAR anti-phage defense is published in Cell.

• Congratulations to co-first authors Brianna Duncan-Lowey, Nitzan Tal, and all of the co-authors in our labs.

• Manuscript: "Cryo-EM structure of the RADAR supramolecular anti-phage defense complex"

• View our new structures of the RADAR complex: PDB 8FNT, 8FNU, 8FNV, 8FNW

• Read highlights of our work:

• "Structural studies put phage defense mystery on the RADAR" (Timothy Wiryaman and Ian MacRae, in Cell)

2023 - 01 - 09 - Hendrik Michel from HMS Virology starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2023 - 01 - 05 - Renee Chang from HMS BBS starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2022 - 12 - 12 - Aidan Hill starts in the lab as a research technician.

2022 - 11 - 28 - Joel Tan from HMS BBS starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2022 - 10 - 31 - Doug Wassarman starts in the lab as a postdoctoral fellow.

2022 - 09 - 29 - Our paper in collaboration with the Sorek Lab on the discovery of gcADPR immune signals is published in Nature.

• Congratulations to co-first authors Azita Leavitt, Erez Yirmiya, Gil Amitai, and Allen Lu, and all of the co-authors in our labs.

• Manuscript: "Viruses inhibit TIR gcADPR signalling to overcome bacterial defense"

• View our new structures of viral proteins that evade Thoeris gcADPR defense: PDB 7UAV, 7UAW

2022 - 09 - 07 - Jesse Plung from HMS Virology starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2022 - 07 - 25 - Our paper on the structural basis of human TREX1 DNA degradation is published in Nature Communications.

• Congratulations to Wen, Desmond, and the co-authors in Wen's new lab.

• Manuscript: "Structural basis of human TREX1 DNA degradation and autoimmune disease"

• View our new structures human TREX1: PDB 7TQN, 7TQO, 7TQP, 7TQQ

2022 - 07 - 20 - Our paper in collaboration with the Shao Lab on bacterial STING signaling is published in Nature.

• Congratulations to Ben and all of the co-authors in our labs.

• Manuscript: "Cryo-EM structure of an active bacterial TIR-STING filament complex"

• View our new structures of the bacterial STING signaling complex: PDB 7UN8, 7UN9, 7UNA

2022 - 07 - 19 - Kailey wins an F99 graduate fellowship from the National Cancer Institute.

2022 - 06 - 30 - Ben accepts a faculty position at University of California–Irvine, congratulations Ben!

2022 - 06 - 22 - Our research on cGAS-like receptors and anti-tumor immunity is supported by the CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR program.

2022 - 06 - 20 - Hunter Toyoda starts in the lab as a research technician.

2022 - 06 - 20 - Sarah Mooney starts in the lab as a research technician.

2022 - 05 - 02 - Sadie Antine joins the lab for her dissertation research.

2022 - 04 - 08 - Our paper explaining a conserved mechanism for how viruses defeat cyclic nucleotide based immunity is published in Nature.

• Congratulations to Sam and Allen in our lab, and our collaborators in the Sorek Lab.

• Manuscript: "Phage anti-CBASS and anti-Pycsar nucleases subvert bacterial immunity"

• View our new structures of the viral Acb1 and Apyc1 proteins: PDB 7T26, 7T27, 7T28, 7U2R, 7U2S

• Read highlights of our work:

• "Killing the messenger to evade bacterial defences" (Urs Jenal, in Nature)

• "Turning down the (C)BASS: Phage-encoded inhibitors jam bacterial immune signaling" (Nils Birkholz and Peter Fineran, in Molecular Cell)

2022 - 04 - 04 - Desmond wins a graduate fellowship from the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

2022 - 03 - 28 - Yao wins a postdoctoral fellowship from the Benacerraf foundation.

2022 - 02 - 09 - Felix Steinruecke from HMS BBS starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2022 - 01 - 31 - Jingjing Liu from HMS BBS starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2022 - 01 - 13 - Our paper in collaboration with the Sorek Lab on bacterial gasdermins in anti-phage defense is published in Science.

• Congratulations to co-first authors Alex and Tana, and all of the co-authors in our labs.

• Manuscript: "Bacterial gasdermins reveal an ancient mechanism of cell death"

• View our new structures of bacterial gasdermin effectors: PDB 7N50, 7N51, 7N52

• Read highlights of our work:

• "Human immune system uses ancient family of cell death proteins also found in bacteria" (DFCI press release)

• "Humans and bacteria rely on the same aeons-old immune defence" (Nature research highlight)

• "Prokaryotic gasdermins: ancestors of eukaryotic counterparts direct pyroptosis and cell fates" (Yingying Liu, Chen Zhang, and Min Wu in Signal Trans. Targ. Therapy)

2021 - 11 - 29 - Sadie Antine from HMS Virology starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2021 - 11 - 15 - Our paper on the mechanism of TM effector-mediated cell death in CBASS anti-phage defense is published in Molecular Cell.

• Congratulations to Brianna and Nora in our lab, and our collaborators in the Sorek Lab.

• Manuscript: "Effector-mediated membrane disruption controls cell death in CBASS antiphage defense"

• View our new structures of the CBASS Cap15 effector: PDB 7N34, 7N35

2021 - 11 - 04 - Kepler Mears from HMS BBS starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2021 - 10 - 18 - Max Fels starts in the lab as a postdoctoral fellow joint with the Lee Lab.

2021 - 10 - 12 - Our paper in collaboration with the Sorek Lab on the discovery of Pycsar anti-phage defense is published in Cell.

• Congratulations to co-first authors Ben and Nitzan, all of the co-authors from our labs, and our collaborators in the Shao Lab.

• Manuscript: "Cyclic CMP and cyclic UMP mediate bacterial immunity against phages"

• View our new structure of the Pycsar PycC cUMP cyclase: PDB 7R65

• Read highlights of our work:

• "Cyclic pyrimidines jump on the anti-phage bandwagon" (Karen Maxwell, in Cell)

• "cCMP and cUMP come into the spotlight, finally" (Roland Seifert and Bastian Schirmer, in Trends in Biochemical Sciences)

2021 - 10 - 05 - Our research on cGAS-like receptors is supported by the NIH Director's New Innovator program.

2021 - 09 - 14 - Brianna successfully defends her thesis research, congratulations Dr. Duncan-Lowey!

2021 - 09 - 03 - Wanyu Li from HMS Virology starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2021 - 08 - 30 - Desmond Richmond-Buccola joins the lab for his graduate dissertation research.

2021 - 08 - 19 - Apurva successfully defends her thesis research, congratulations Dr. Govande!

2021 - 08 - 09 - Allen Lu starts in the lab as a research technician.

2021 - 08 - 04 - Sam wins a postdoctoral fellowship from the Cancer Research Institute.

2021 - 07 - 25 - Alex wins a postdoctoral fellowship from the Life Sciences Research Institute.

2021 - 07 - 14 - Our paper on the discovery of animal cGAS-like receptors (cGLRs) is published in Nature.

• Congratulations to Kailey, all of the co-authors from our lab, and our collaborators in the Imler, Cai, Lee, and Seifert Labs.

• Manuscript: "cGAS-like receptors sense RNA and control 3′2′-cGAMP signalling in Drosophila"

• View our new structures of animal cGLRs and the Drosophila STING–3′2′-cGAMP complex: PDB 7LT1, 7LT2, 7MWY, 7MWZ

• Read highlights of our work:

• "cGAS-like receptors put a sting into the evolution of immune defence" (Cara West and Neal Silverman, in Nature)

• "cGAS-like receptors: ancient catches of viral nucleic acids" (Taoyong Chen and Xuetao Cao, in Trends in Immunology)

• "cGAS-like receptors: new RNA sensors in Drosophila" (Yao Fan, Long Zhang, and Fangfang Zhou, in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy)

2021 - 06 - 01 - Our paper on CD-NTase synthesis of antiviral nucleotide second messengers is published in Cell Reports.

• Congratulations to Apurva and all of the co-authors from our lab.

• Manuscript: "Molecular basis of CD-NTase nucleotide selection in CBASS anti-phage defense"

• View our new structures of a cyclic dinucleotide and cyclic trinucleotide synthesizing CD-NTases: PDB 7LJL, 7LJM, 7LJN, 7LJO

2021 - 05 - 03 - Julia Schnabel from HMS Virology starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2021 - 03 - 11 - Wen accepts a faculty position at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in China, congratulations Wen!

2021 - 02 - 23 - Yao Li starts in the lab as a postdoctoral fellow.

2021 - 02 - 18 - Our paper on cGAS-DNA condensate formation resisting TREX1 regulation is publised in Molecular Cell.

• Congratulations to Wen and our collaborators in the Maciejowski Lab.

• Manuscript: "cGAS phase separation inhibits TREX1-mediated DNA degradation and enhances cytosolic DNA sensing"

• View our new structure of a TREX1 variant associated with autoimmunity: PDB 6W10

• Read Andrea Ablasser's preview of our work: "The spatial organization of cGAS-TREX1 interactions"

2020 - 12 - 01 - Our work on nucleotide second messenger signaling is supported by The Mathers Foundation.

2020 - 11 - 16 - Our paper on poxin 2′3′-cGAMP nucleases in diverse insect viruses and insect hosts is published in eLife.

• Congratulations to James and Kacie.

• Manuscript: "Structures of diverse poxin cGAMP nucleases reveal a widespread role for cGAS-STING evasion in host-pathogen conflict"

• View our new structures of viral and host poxins: PDB 6XB3, 6XB4, 6XB5, 6XB6

2020 - 11 - 03 - Sam Hobbs starts in the lab as a postdoctoral fellow.

2020 - 10 - 05 - Wen is a recipient of the 2020 Charles A. King Trust Award.

2020 - 09 - 09 - Desmond Richmond-Buccola from HMS Virology starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2020 - 09 - 02 - Our paper on the origin of STING cyclic dinucleotide sensing in bacteria is published in Nature.

• Congratulations to Ben, co-authors, and our collaborators in the Sorek Lab and Shao Lab.

• Manuscript: "STING cyclic dinucleotide sensing originated in bacteria"

• View our new structures of bacterial STING receptors and cGAS-like enzymes in CBASS and metazoan immunity: PDB 6WT4, 6WT5, 6WT6, 6WT7, 6WT8, 6WT9

• Read Justin Jenson's and James Chen's preview of our work: "Bacteria sting viral invaders"

2020 - 08 - 28 - Our work on CD-NTase enzymes is supported by the Burroughs Wellcomme Fund PATH program.

2020 - 07 - 07 - Ady Ragucci starts in the lab as a research technician.

2020 - 07 - 07 - Alex Johnson starts in the lab as a postdoctoral fellow.

2020 - 06 - 16 - Nora McNamara-Bordewick starts in the lab as a research technician.

2020 - 06 - 15 - Our paper on CARF receptors and 2′–5′-linkages in CBASS / CD-NTase antiviral immunity is published in Cell.

• Congratulations to Brianna, co-authors, and our collaborators in the Lee Lab, Shao Lab, Mekalanos Lab, Jain Lab, and at Biolog.

• Manuscript: "CBASS immunity uses CARF-related effectors to sense 3′–5′- and 2′–5′-linked cyclic oligonucleotide signals and protect bacteria from phage infection"

• View our new structures of Cap4 receptors in CBASS immunity: PDB 6VM5, 6VM6, 6WAM, 6WAN

• Read Malcolm White's preview of our work: "Bacteria SAVED from Viruses"

2020 - 04 - 16 - James successfully defends his thesis research, congratulations Dr. Eaglesham!

2020 - 03 - 02 - James is a recipient of the 2020 Harold W. Weintraub Graduate Student Award.

2020 - 01 - 06 - Our work on cGAS-STING regulation is supported by The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research.

2019 - 09 - 16 - Lauren Davancaze from HMS BBS starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2019 - 09 - 09 - Our work is recognized with the American Society for Microbiology Award for Early Career Basic Research.

2019 - 06 - 18 - Kailey Slavik joins the lab for her graduate dissertation work.

2019 - 06 - 15 - Aaron accepts a faculty position at CU Boulder, congratulations to the Whiteley Lab opening soon!

2019 - 06 - 14 - Our work on cGAS and CD-NTase enzymes is supported by the Pew Biomedical Scholars program.

2019 - 05 - 10 - Wen wins a postdoctoral fellowship from the Benacerraf foundation.

2019 - 05 - 01 - Ben wins an NIH postdoctoral fellowship from the NRSA F32 program.

2019 - 04 - 23 - Our paper with the Lee Lab on STING signaling specificity is published today in Cell Reports.

• Congratulations to Carina, co-authors, and our collaborators in the Kagan Lab.

• Read the manuscript: "Modular architecture of the STING C-terminal tail allows interferon and NF-κB signaling adaptation"

• View our new structure of the zebrafish STING CTT–TRAF6 complex: PDB 6MYD

2019 - 04 - 15 - Kailey Slavik from HMS Virology starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2019 - 03 - 01 - James wins a graduate award from the Albert J. Ryan Foundation.

2019 - 02 - 20 - Our paper with the Mekalanos Lab on bacterial cGAS/DncV-like NTases (CD-NTases) is published today in Nature.

• Congratulations to Aaron, co-authors, and our collaborators in the Lee Lab.

• Read the manuscript: "Bacterial cGAS-like enzymes synthesize diverse nucleotide signals"

• View our new structures of CD-NTase enzymes and a host immunity receptor in complex with a cyclic trinucleotide: PDB 6E0K, 6E0L, 6E0M, 6E0N, 6E0O, 6M7K

• Read Chris Waters' preview of our work in Cell Host & Microbe: "Pyrimidines and Cyclic Trinucleotides Join the Second Messenger Symphony"

2019 - 02 - 19 - Hsiao-Yun Chen starts in the lab as a postdoctoral fellow.

2019 - 02 - 06 - Our paper on how poxviruses defeat cGAS-STING immunity is published today in Nature.

• Congratulations to James and our collaborators in the Kupper Lab.

• Read the manuscript: "Viral and metazoan poxins are cGAMP-specific nucleases that restrict cGAS-STING signalling"

• View our new structures of the poxin nuclease stolen from an insect host-pathogen arms race: PDB 6EA6, 6EA8, 6EA9

• Read highlights of our work:

"Virology: Poxins Soothe the STING" (Andrea Ablasser, in Current Biology)

"A Poxin on Both of Your Houses" (Ming Hammond, in Biochemistry)

"A Pox on Your Messenger" (UniProt Featured Article)

2018 - 11 - 07 - Aaron wins an outstanding postdoc award from HMS.

2018 - 08 - 06 - Kacie McCarty starts in the lab as a research technician.

2018 - 08 - 01 - Our work on cGAS is supported by the Concern Foundation.

2018 - 07 - 12 - Our lab's first paper is published today in Cell.

• Congratulations to Wen, Aaron, co-authors, and our collaborators in the Mekalanos Lab, Lee Lab, Gray Lab, and Fischer Lab.

• Read the manuscript: "Structure of the human cGAS–DNA complex reveals enhanced control of immune surveillance"

• View our new structures of the human cGAS–DNA complex: PDB 6CT9, 6CTA

• Read Andrea Ablasser's preview of our work in Immunity: "Human cGAS Has a Slightly Different Taste for DNA"

• Read the press releases: Harvard Medical School "Guardian of the Cell" and Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy "Key Cancer Detection Protein"

2018 - 03 - 31 - Brianna Lowey joins the lab for her graduate dissertation work.

2018 - 02 - 26 - Our work on STING signaling is supported by the V Foundation.

2018 - 01 - 03 - Brianna Lowey from HMS Virology starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2017 - 10 - 17 - Our work on cGAS-STING signaling is supported by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.

2017 - 09 - 18 - Benjamin Morehouse starts in the lab as a postdoctoral fellow.

2017 - 09 - 15 - Our work on STING activation in cancer immunotherapy is supported by the Novartis Drug Discovery and Translational Research Program.

2017 - 08 - 31 - Our collaborations with the Doudna Lab and Meyer Lab at UC-Berkeley are published today in Cell.

• Congratulations to Katjuša, Lucas and Kevin.

C. elegans DPY-21 H4K20 Demethylase: "Dynamic control of X-chromosome conformation and repression by a histone H4K20 demethylase"

• Nme Cas9–AcrIIC1 Phage Inhibition: "A broad-spectrum inhibitor of CRISPR-Cas9"

2017 - 08 - 01 - Wen Zhou starts in the lab as a postdoctoral fellow.

2017 - 07 - 13 - Carina wins a postdoctoral fellowship from the Cancer Research Institute.

2017 - 06 - 25 - Our work on STING and cancer immunotherapy is supported by the Cancer Research Institute CLIP Program.

2017 - 06 - 23 - Apurva Govande joins the lab for her graduate dissertation work.

2017 - 04 - 25 - Aaron wins a postdoctoral fellowship from the Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund.

2017 - 04 - 10 - Apurva Govande from HMS Virology starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2017 - 03 - 15 - James Eaglesham joins the lab for his graduate dissertation work.

2017 - 01 - 09 - James Eaglesham and Hembly Rivas from HMS Virology start their graduate rotations in the lab.

2017 - 01 - 05 - Our work on STING signaling is supported by the Charles H. Hood Foundation Child Health Research Awards Program.

2016 - 12 - 13 - Our work on RNA second messengers is supported by the Smith Family Awards Program for Excellence in Biomedical Research.

2016 - 12 - 05 - Carina de Oliveira Mann starts in the lab as a postdoctoral fellow.

2016 - 10 - 03 - Colin O'Leary from HMS Virology starts a graduate rotation in the lab.

2016 - 09 - 24 - Aaron Whiteley starts in the Mekalanos lab and Kranzusch lab as a postdoctoral fellow.

2016 - 09 - 06 - Eric Nieminen starts in the lab as a research technician.

2016 - 08 - 01 - The Kranzusch Lab begins research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School.

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