Recombination and Excision: DNA Repair Proteins in Prokaryotic Host-Virus Conflicts

Author

Amer Azim Hossain

Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

RU Laboratory

Marraffini Laboratory

Abstract

Bacteriophages, or simply phages, are viruses that infect bacteria. They are the most abundant biological entity on our planet and outnumber bacteria 10:1 in the ocean. In response to this threat, bacteria have evolved a diverse battery of immune systems that prevent infection, which in turn has resulted in the development of numerous counter-defense mechanisms by phages. This evolutionary arms race drives molecular innovations and presents exciting avenues for the discovery of new molecular biology and new biotechnology tools, such as restriction enzymes andCRISPR-Cas9. My thesis investigates how mechanisms of DNA repair,specifically recombination and base excision,have been co-opted by phages and bacteria to execute non-canonical immune and counter-immune functions in prokaryotic host-virus genetic conflicts.

Comments

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of The Rockefeller University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Recommended Citation

Hossain, Amer Azim, "Recombination and Excision: DNA Repair Proteins in Prokaryotic Host-Virus Conflicts" (2023). Student Theses and Dissertations. 759.
https://digitalcommons.rockefeller.edu/student_theses_and_dissertations/759