CMCB Life Sciences Seminar: Prof. Matthias Wolf, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Japan

Host: Anna Poetsch

Title: “The dynamic structure of the tailed bacteriophage ϕTE by cryo-EM”

Abstract: Electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) has evolved into a tool that now allows structure determination of large molecular assemblies such as entire viruses at near-atomic resolution. I will present the experimentally derived composite structure of an entire bacteriophage comprising nearly 4 million atoms in two functional states, suggesting a molecular mechanism for tail contraction. Bacteriophages are emerging as effective and specific potential alternatives to antibiotics in human health, agriculture and fisheries.