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Structural modeling reveals phage proteins that manipulate bacterial immune signaling
- March 16, 2026 at 9:30 PM
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The genomes of phages—viruses that infect bacteria—are largely composed of "dark matter": genes that encode proteins whose functions remain unknown. Less than four years ago, a team led by Prof. Rotem Sorek at the Weizmann Institute of Science identified a new type of protein within this viral dark matter and dubbed it a "sponge." Viral sponge proteins are porous and specialize in trapping molecules within deep pockets—much like a sponge that absorbs water.
Originally published at Phys.org