EMBL researchers show phage T7 kinase phosphorylates much of the bacterial proteome to shut down host defences (Nature)

EMBL Heidelberg researchers report in Nature that the kinase of phage T7 (T7K) causes almost every bacterial protein to be phosphorylated, at least in part of its pool, within minutes of infection, preferentially targeting DNA-binding proteins that form a core part of bacterial immune mechanisms. In natural E. coli strains carrying defence systems the kinase was vital for T7 to infect, and the authors suggest that engineering phages with broad anti-defence enzymes such as T7 kinase might be key to effective phage therapies.