Strike, counterstrike: the evolving interplay between bacteria and bacteriophage
Bacteria have evolved many mechanisms to prevent viral infection. For each mechanism, it seems that bacteriophage have evolved a countermeasure. This webinar will review the immune systems of bacteria and how they are used to prevent productive viral infection. The focus will be on both lytic and lysogenic bacteriophage, and how bacterial immune systems relate to mammalian immune systems.
What will you learn?
- What do the immune systems of bacteria look like?
- How do bacterial immune systems prevent productive viral infection?
- How are bacterial immune systems related to mammalian immune systems?
Speaker
Vice President for Molecular Sciences
Abcam, PLC (CT, USA)
Dr Weiner obtained his undergraduate and graduate training in microbiology at Penn State University (PA, USA) and genetics at Cornell University (NY, USA), respectively. His graduate research involved cloning DNA methylation enzymes from various Bacillus species phage. He was the first to clone and sequence M.BamHI. He did post-doc training in the Department of Physical Chemistry at Cornell, where he synthesized the genes for RNaseA and thrombin, and investigated their in vitro folding behavior.
A few of his major scientific accomplishments include inventing and commercializing: Quikchange mutagenesis, 454 Next generation DNA sequencing and emulsion PCR and bead-based genotyping. His additional inventions include: digital PCR microfluidics, biopanning using micro-emulsions, microemulsion DNA sequencing and FAC sorting virus particles.
He has co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles, over 30 patent and patent applications, and has edited three books in his areas of expertise: (1) Cloning and expression vectors for gene function analysis (Eaton Publishing), (2) Gene cloning and expression technologies (BioTechniques Press), and (3) Genetic Variation: a lab manual (Cold Spring Harbor Lab Press).
This webinar was recorded on 8th August 2019