Aaron Whiteley
@aaronwhiteley.bsky.social
Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder. Microbiologist. All-around nerd. http://colorado.edu/lab/aaron-whiteley/
1/4 Every good defence needs a backup! 🛡️⚔ Out now in @natrevmicro.nature.com our Comment on "𝗶𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴"! 🎉 🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Immune safeguarding as a conserved principle of antiviral defence - Nature Reviews Microbiology
All organisms defend against viral infections through active immunity mechanisms that clear the virus or population-level mechanisms that cause regulated cell death. Recent research increasingly shows...
nature.com
Open postdoc position in my lab on HGT and interbacterial competition. We seek candidates with a PhD in microbiology (or related fields)+ strong 1st-author publications. Curious, highly motivated, and dedicated team players ready to contribute fully are encouraged to apply. Details: tiny.cc/cz01101
Open Positions
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tiny.cc
BWF Announces the 2026 Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease www.bwfund.org/news/bwf-ann... #bwfpath
BWF Announces the 2026 Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease - Burroughs Wellcome Fund
DURHAM, N.C. – The Burroughs Wellcome Fund is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease (PATH) awards, recognizing assistant…
bwfund.org
I’m thrilled to share an update to our work on bacterial NACHT domain containing proteins! In our last preprint, we reported that bNACHT11 is activated by multiple phage proteins. We’ve now expanded this work with structural insight and investigation of programmed cell death following activation.
biorxiv.org
New work from Sashi Weerawarana on how TFAM compacts mitochondrial DNA 🧬 TFAM oligomerizes on DNA to form compact, homogeneous higher-order complexes (see beautiful mass photometry data below), that still retain dynamic behavior. Congratulations Sashi and Wei. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Bacteriophages are in a constant arms race with bacteria 🦠 The Phage ORFeome pooled library from the Aaron Whiteley lab contains phage proteins that activate antiphage defense systems — a tool to dissect the mechanisms of bacterial immunity. Aaron Whiteley
Addgene: Phage ORFeome Library
Use the Phage ORFeome Library to uncover the triggers responsible for immune activation.
twp.ai
I'm happy to share a review that our lab put together on innate immune responses to Rickettsia. One interesting tidbit - different Rickettsia species have distinct interactions with xenophagy, where some species co-opt ubiquitylation, while others avoid it! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Innate immune responses to Rickettsia: emerging themes and contrasts between species
Over 10 species of Rickettsia cause serious human disease across the globe, including deadly spotted fever and typhus. These arthropod-borne microbes …
sciencedirect.com
Check out this wonderful piece by @vcallier.bsky.social on how parts of the human immune system can be traced back to the conflict between bacteria and phages!
Quanta Magazine@quantamagazine.org · 4mo agoOver two billion years, a fierce battle has raged between bacteria and the viruses that infect them. The resulting evolution has shaped the way our bodies fight disease today. @vcallier.bsky.social reports: www.quantamagazine.org/the-ancient-...
Thank you to @vcallier.bsky.social and Quanta Magazine for highlighting our lab along with the incredible research from @soreklab.bsky.social @audeber.bsky.social @aaronwhiteley.bsky.social @benmorehouse.bsky.social @teralevin.bsky.social @algao.bsky.social Eugene Koonin, L. Aravind and others!
Quanta Magazine@quantamagazine.org · 4mo agoOver two billion years, a fierce battle has raged between bacteria and the viruses that infect them. The resulting evolution has shaped the way our bodies fight disease today. @vcallier.bsky.social reports: www.quantamagazine.org/the-ancient-...
PostDoc position available! (links in post below) Feel free to share!
Postdoc position available in St Andrews for a structural biologist: www.vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Research Fellow - AR3262
Research Fellow - AR3262, School of Biology Salary: Grade 6 / £38,784 pa Start date: 1 July 2026 Full time Fixed term: 36 months, <p><span>Applications are sought for a committed Post-doctoral Research Fellow to work with Dr Rafael Guimaraes da Silva conducting research for a Leverhulme Trust Research Grant funded project to dissect catalysis and allostery in a gut microbiome ATP phosphoribosyltransferase enzyme. The primary duties will be to uncover the catalytic and allosteric mechanisms via protein crystallography and enzymology.</span></p> <p><span>The successful applicant will have (or be near to completion of) a PhD in Biochemistry or Structural Biology with expertise in X-ray crystallography and enzymology. </span></p> <p><span>The post is available for 36 months starting 1<sup>st</sup> July 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. </span></p> <p><span>Further information and informal enquiries may be directed to Dr Rafael Guimaraes da Silva at </span>rgds@st-andrews.ac.uk</p> <p> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"><strong>Benefits:</strong></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 2rem;"> <li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><span>Financial contribution to </span><a href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/hr/payandpensions/removalandrelocationpolicy/" style="color: #565661; background-color: transparent;">relocation</a> <span>(subject to eligibility)</span></li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 2rem;"> <li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><span>Membership of the USS Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions of 14.5%</span></li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 2rem;"> <li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><span>A hybrid working environment, including partial homeworking where appropriate and a range of family friendly policies, supporting work-life balance</span></li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 2rem;"> <li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><span>Staff discount scheme for local and national goods and services</span></li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 2rem;"> <li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><span>Free staff parking, employee Carshare and Cycle to Work Schemes and subsidised local bus travel</span></li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 2rem;"> <li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><span>Subsidised sports membership, reduced tuition fees on degree programmes for staff, access to training and development opportunities including LinkedIn Learning, access to library facilities, salary sacrifice scheme</span></li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 2rem;"> <li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 4pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><span>34 Days Annual Leave plus 5 Public Holidays.</span></li> </ul> <p><span><br> </span></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"><em>At St Andrews, equality, diversity, and inclusion are central to who we are and form a core pillar of our University Strategy. We are committed to creating a fair, inclusive and supportive workplace, reflected in our participation in national diversity charters and awards, including Athena Swan, Carer Positive and the Race Equality Charter. </em></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"><em>We particularly welcome applications from people from Black, Asian, minority ethnic and minority religions backgrounds and from LGBTQ+ and disabled people. </em></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"><strong>Closing date: 17 April 2026</strong></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"><strong>Interview date: 11 May 2026</strong></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"><strong>Job Description: <a href="https://www.vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk//ViewAttachment.aspx?enc=jmxpV+AcVus8i/wvT3FZXrrCOvCUGNWd9uca/tGZrAJOxn0uaIw998B27m1Z2faQPrIL0fNvKayeQQ9Vm6dRjh8e9IpvpaUCTN3uAzHFqby4lpmr7kDQu7hbKVYB1s1b" target="_blank" title="AR3262RS FPs.pdf">AR3262RS FPs.pdf</a><br> </strong></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"><strong>Ref no: AR3262RS</strong></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;"><strong> </strong></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;">School of Biology</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;">Salary: Grade 6 / £38,784 pa</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;">Start date: 1 July 2026</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;">Full time</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; text-align: justify;">Fixed term: 36 months</p>, Working Hours : Full Time School/Unit : School of Biology Job Family : Academic (Research) ,
vacancies.st-andrews.ac.uk
A welcome editorial message. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Advancing microbiology through foundational science - Nature Microbiology
Microorganisms have tremendous potential to impact humanity, but such revelations are only possible in the light of foundational, discovery-based microbiology research.
nature.com
Happy to share the final version of my postdoc work on bacterial CBASS immunity with @aaronwhiteley.bsky.social published in @cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Bacterial 2′,3′-cGAMP activates a SAVED effector to form membrane-disrupting filaments and restrict phage replication
Tak et al. discover that bacteria use 2′,3′-cGAMP, the same signaling molecule employed by mammalian cGAS-STING, for phage defense. In response to phage, 2′,3′-cGAMP activates filament formation of Ca...
cell.com
Out now–our work on bacterial cGAS-like enzymes making 2′,3′-cGAMP! Read Uday's thread for updates since the preprint including determining our lab's first protein structure and developing a new system to study bacterial STING homologs in phage defense👇
Uday Tak@snowkaryote.bsky.social · 4mo agoHappy to share the final version of my postdoc work on bacterial CBASS immunity with @aaronwhiteley.bsky.social published in @cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Abstract submission is now OPEN for the 2026 Symposium on the Immune System of Bacteria! sisb2026.rockefeller.edu 🗓 May 5–7, 2026 📍 Rockefeller University, New York City ⏰ Abstract deadline: March 16, 2026 Attendance will be capped, be sure to register early and secure your spot. See you in NYC!
SISB2026
sisb2026.rockefeller.edu
A DNA damage-activated kinase controls bacterial immune pathway expression https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.02.703251v1
I’m thrilled to share our work on phage triggers of the bacterial immune system in its final form @natmicrobiol.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A phage protein screen identifies triggers of the bacterial innate immune system - Nature Microbiology
A library of 400 phage protein-coding genes is used to find a trove of antiphage systems, revealing systems that target tail fibre and major capsid proteins.
nature.com
Out Now! A phage protein screen identifies triggers of the bacterial innate immune system #MicroSky
A phage protein screen identifies triggers of the bacterial innate immune system
Nature Microbiology, Published online: 16 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41564-025-02239-6A library of 400 phage protein-coding genes is used to find a trove of antiphage systems, revealing systems that target tail fibre and major capsid proteins.
go.nature.com
Our Perspective article on the emerging role of retroelements in brain function and disease is now out in this week's edition of @cp-neuron.bsky.social! @alexwhiteley.bsky.social www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Retrotransposons unplugged: Rewiring the nervous system and wreaking havoc
In this perspective, Whiteley and Shepherd describe emerging studies showing a role for long terminal repeat retrotransposons and endogenous retroviruses in brain function and disease. Historically ig...
cell.com
The EMBO Gold Medal 2025 was awarded to Tanmay Bharat and David Bikard: https://www.embo.org/press-releases/embo-gold-medal-2025-awarded-to-tanmay-bharat-and-david-bikard/ 🧪 At #CellBio2025, the EMBO Gold Medal was handed over to David Bikard in recognition of his pioneering work on #GeneEditing.
Check this out for the 2026 SISB (phage defense) meeting in NYC. Mark your calendar! (and note the Zoom option, if needed) sisb2026.rockefeller.edu
SISB2026
sisb2026.rockefeller.edu
Last year it was discovered that a single bacterial NLR-like protein can recognize multiple, structurally unrelated phage proteins (Béchon et al, Kibby et al) Now, a new study shows the same for a plant NLR. Another example how principles of immunity remain conserved from bacteria to eukaryotes
Lukas Kunz@lukas-kunz.bsky.social · 9mo agoA wheat NLR conferring broad-spectrum resistance against powdery mildew by recognizing two structurally diverse AVR effectors. Interested? Check out our newest preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We have a PhD opportunity available in our group @johninnescentre.bsky.social through the NRP Doctoral Training Partnership. Help us uncover the Hidden Diversity of Bacterial NLRs. Start date: October 2026. For more information and how to apply👉 biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/bey...
Beyond Immunity: Uncovering the Hidden Diversity of Bacterial NLRs (SCHLIMPERT_J26DTP) | Doctoral Training Partnership
Join us in exploring the hidden functions of ancient immune proteins in bacteria. Bacteria, like plants and animals, have evolved sophisticated systems to detect and respond to threats.
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk
1/10 Genome maintenance by telomerase is a fundamental process in nearly all eukaryotes. But where does it come from? Today, we report the discovery of telomerase homologs in a family of antiviral RTs, revealing an unexpected evolutionary origin in bacteria. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Antiviral reverse transcriptases reveal the evolutionary origin of telomerase
Defense-associated reverse transcriptases (DRTs) employ diverse and distinctive mechanisms of cDNA synthesis to protect bacteria against viral infection. However, much of DRT family diversity remains ...
biorxiv.org
Thank you to the Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences for honoring our research uniting human innate immunity and bacterial anti-phage defense at @danafarber.bsky.social @harvardmicro.bsky.social @harvard.edu bit.ly/4pZUDkF blavatnikawards.org/news/items/t...
Our work on the Panoptes antiphage system is published! Here we find that Panoptes "watches" the cytosol for phage immune evasion proteins–captured in this illustration by Clair Huffine of Insight Illustrations. A beautiful example of the effector triggered immunity paradigm.
A little late to the Panoptes party, but I’m delighted to share that our paper is published! 👁️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The Panoptes system uses decoy cyclic nucleotides to defend against phage - Nature
The Panoptes antiphage system defends bacteria by detecting phage-encoded counter-defences that sequester cyclic nucleotide signals, triggering membrane disruption and highlighting a broader strategy of sensing immune evasion through second-messenger surveillance.
nature.com
Our story describing the Panoptes bacterial immune defense system is now finally peer-reviewed and published today! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The Panoptes system uses decoy cyclic nucleotides to defend against phage - Nature
The Panoptes antiphage system defends bacteria by detecting phage-encoded counter-defences that sequester cyclic nucleotide signals, triggering membrane disruption and highlighting a broader strategy of sensing immune evasion through second-messenger surveillance.
nature.com
Today in @nature.com , we highlight how a cousin of CRISPR-Cas10, mCpol, establishes an evolutionary trap in anti-phage immune systems. Check out @erinedoherty.bsky.social and my work from @doudna-lab.bsky.social lab here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A miniature CRISPR–Cas10 enzyme confers immunity by inhibitory signalling - Nature
Panoptes, an anti-phage defence system against virus-mediated immune suppression, is revealed.
nature.com