Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41457318›Full record

ArticleApplied and environmental microbiology2026

A pentose, as a cytosine nucleobase modification in

David Brandt, Anja K Dörrich, Marcus Persicke, Alina Kemmler, Tabea Leonhard, Markus Haak, Sophia Nölting, Matthias Ruwe, Nicole Schmid, Kai M Thormann and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Applied and environmental microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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.

David BrandtCenter for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
Anja K DörrichDepartment of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
Marcus PersickeCenter for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
Alina KemmlerDepartment of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
Tabea LeonhardDepartment of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
Markus HaakCenter for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
Sophia NöltingCenter for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
Matthias RuweCenter for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-9695-1358
Nicole SchmidDepartment of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
Kai M ThormannDepartment of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-7292-4884
Jörn KalinowskiCenter for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-9052-1998

Funding

European Regional Development Fund 34.EFRE-0300095/1703FI04
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Co-evolution of bacterial defense systems and phage counter-defense mechanisms has resulted in an intricate biological interplay between bacteriophages and their prey. In order to evade nuclease-based mechanisms that target DNA, various bacteriophages modify their nucleobases, which impedes or even inhibits the recognition and restriction by endonucleases. We found that IMPORTANCE: Several phages extensively decorate their DNA building blocks, providing an effective protection against various host and phage-produced restriction systems. These modifications allow the phages to distinguish between their own DNA and that of the host, significantly increasing the establishment of the phage chromosome upon entry into the host and subsequent phage proliferation. Several different modifications have been previously identified and characterized. Here, we describe a hitherto unknown cytosine modification, consisting of a deoxypentose-putatively xylose-that provides protection against various bacterial restriction systems, including DNA-targeting CRISPR/Cas systems. Our findings expand the range of DNA modifications that phages use for protection.

Indexed as

BacteriophagesCytosineDNA, ViralShewanellaGenome, ViralCytosineDNA, ViralDNA modificationphage defencephage–host interactionrestriction

Identifiers

PMID41457318
PMCPMC12838424

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.