Phage Canada

Studies of the evolutionary arms race fought between bacteriophages and bacteria have led to the development of many useful biotechnological tools. CRISPR-Cas gene editing is one  such technology that has revolutionized scientific research. In nature, CRISPR-Cas is an adaptive immune system found in many bacterial species that protect against phages. In collaboration with Alan Davidson's lab, we discovered that phages have evolved a means to evade this immune system by utilizing small proteins that shut down CRISPR-Cas machinery. These “anti-CRISPR” proteins were found to be widespread in nature, encoded by many different phages and inhibiting various types of CRISPR-Cas systems.

Work in our lab is focused on the discovery and characterization of anti-CRISPRs that target the type II CRISPR-Cas9 systems found in bacteria like Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus parainfluenzae. We utilize bioinformatics and genetic screens to identify new anti-CRISPRs, and we characterize them using a combination of biological, biochemical and biophysical techniques.

Anti-CRISPRs

the maxwell lab