PhD Scientific Days 2026

Theoretical and Translational Medicine 4.

Flexible Motion of T7 bacteriophage Tail Fibers Suggest a Dynamic Viral Infection Mechanism

Előadó neve

Kiss, Bálint, PhD

Neptune code

V3RJ08

Előadó munkahelye

Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology

Előadó telefonszáma

06304642508

Előadó e-mail címe

onlybalint@gmail.com

Az előadás címe

Flexible Motion of T7 bacteriophage Tail Fibers Suggest a Dynamic Viral Infection Mechanism

Szerző(k) neve és munkahelye

Bálint Kiss¹, Luca Kosik¹, Dominik Sziklai¹, Bence Fehér², Soma Yamamoto³, Hiroki Konno³, Noriyuki Kodera³, Holger Flechsig³, Hedvid Tordai¹, Levente Herényi¹, Miklós Kellermayer¹

1: SE - Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology
2: Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology
3: NanoLSI, Kanazawa University

Bemutatás módja

Szóbeli

Szekció

Theoretical and Translational Medicine 4.

Language of the presentation

English

Preferred session

Theoretical and Translational Medicine

Összefoglaló szövege

Viruses are nanoscale infectious agents capable of specifically targeting and reprograming host cells. A unique group of viruses, bacteriophages, have regained popularity in research partly due to the rising number of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Phages could potentially replace antibiotics, but only if we understand every detail of their structure and infection cycle. T7 bacteriophages are a group of dsDNA viruses, which infect E. coli bacteria. T7 virions are comprised of an icosahedral protein shell which encapsulates the genomic DNA, and a tail-fiber complex which is primarily used for target recognition and DNA injection. The virus has six” L”-shaped, ~40 nm long fibers (gp17 protein trimers) attached to the tail-tube, which are thought to be essential for initial host recognition and possibly surface exploration. Using high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) we observed the molecular structure and movements of isolated tail fibers. Firstly, we have identified a hinge region within the fibers, which makes them highly flexible, allowing the bending of their distal region. Furthermore, we have observed the dynamic triple helical coiled coil structure of the proximal region, which would allow fiber rotation. These two points of flexibility allow a more efficient and highly dynamic host recognition and virus anchoring process. The observed flexibility might allow host surface exploration by walking. Such flexibility in the host recognition machinery may not be unique to T7 bacteriophages, getting us one step closer to understanding the intricate details of virus-host interactions.

University

Semmelweis University

Supervisor

not relevant

Publication of my abstract

I do not give consent to the publication of my abstract on the website of the congress.

phd.section.field

after finishing doctoral studies with absolutorium (PhD)

Kind

Szabad

Status

elfogadva

Accepted presentation method

szóbeli

Előadás fájl jóváhagyás

nem hagyta jóvá

Előadó

4130

Start

15:15

End

15:25