Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40057510›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Modularity of Zorya defense systems during phage inhibition.

Giuseppina Mariano, Justin C Deme, Jennifer J Readshaw, Matthew J Grobbelaar, Mackenzie Keenan, Yasmin El-Masri, Lindsay Bamford, Suraj Songra, Tim R Blower, Tracy Palmer and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. How bacterial immune systems sense phage infection.Nature reviews. Microbiology · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Advances in understanding Ton and Tol system motor proteins.Biochemical Society transactions · 2026
    Review
  7. Genomic islands inNAR genomics and bioinformatics · 2025
    Article
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Giuseppina Mariano *Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Guildford, UK. giusy.mariano@glasgow.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1197-2123
Justin C Deme *Center for Structural Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD, USA. justin.deme@nih.gov.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8811-9871
Jennifer J ReadshawDepartment of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-5734-1470
Matthew J GrobbelaarDepartment of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4124-2949
Mackenzie KeenanDepartment of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Guildford, UK.
Yasmin El-MasriDepartment of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Guildford, UK.
Lindsay BamfordDepartment of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Guildford, UK.
Suraj SongraDepartment of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Guildford, UK.
Tim R BlowerDepartment of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7390-6458
Tracy PalmerMicrobes in Health and Disease Theme, Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9043-2592
Susan M LeaCenter for Structural Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD, USA. susan.lea@nih.gov.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9287-8053

Funding

Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust (Wellcome) 218622/Z/19/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Bacteria have evolved an extraordinary diversity of defense systems against bacteriophage (phage) predation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these anti-phage systems often remain elusive. Here, we provide mechanistic and structural insights into Zorya phage defense systems. Using cryo-EM structural analyses, we show that the Zorya type I and II core components, ZorA and ZorB, assemble in a 5:2 complex that is similar to inner-membrane ion-driven, rotary motors that power flagellar rotation, type 9 secretion, gliding and the Ton nutrient uptake systems. The ZorAB complex has an elongated cytoplasmic tail assembled by bundling the C-termini of the five ZorA subunits. Mutagenesis demonstrates that peptidoglycan binding by the periplasmic domains of ZorB, the structured cytoplasmic tail of ZorA, and ion flow through the motor is important for function in both type I and II systems. Furthermore, we identify ZorE as the effector module of the Zorya II system, possessing nickase activity. Our work reveals the molecular basis of the activity of Zorya systems and highlights the ZorE nickase as crucial for population-wide immunity in the type II system.

Indexed as

Bacterial ProteinsBacteriophagesCryoelectron MicroscopyEscherichia coliPeptidoglycanBacterial ProteinsPeptidoglycan

Identifiers

PMID40057510
PMCPMC11890865

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.