Erin Doherty
Postdoc @ Doudna Lab, UC Berkeley 🧬 | Chemical & Structural Biology | Immunity Mechanisms | CRISPR | RNA-Editing |
F32 NRSA | Berkeley Chancellor's Fellow
UC Davis Beal Lab Alum | Former CIRM, NIH F31 & NIH T32
- Reposted by Erin DohertyFriends, please help spread the word about our microbiology REU program at Montana State University. www.montana.edu/mbi/reu/ Each student receives a stipend ($7000 for 10 wks). Travel compensation, room, and board are also provided. Details in the attached pic--Feb 14 deadline 🧫🧪🦠#microsky
- Reposted by Erin Doherty"What we’re … seeing is the toll of the uncertainty." My latest story for @science.org—part of a package that explores how the U.S. scientific community has changed under Trump—includes new numbers on graduate enrollment and faculty hiring. www.science.org/content/arti...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyHello world! I am excited to announce my lab is open at the University of Utah in the Department of Biochemistry. We are looking for scientists at all levels interested in studying host-virus interactions in both bacteria and animals. Come join us in beautiful Utah! (photo is 10 steps from lab)
- Reposted by Erin DohertyHow do the ancestors of CRISPR-Cas unwind DNA and how can this lead to better genome editing? With our collaboration between @doudna-lab.bsky.social x @jacobsenucla.bsky.social x Zev Bryant's lab x @savagecatsonly.bsky.social we've uncovered the secrets behind TnpB's dynamics!
- Reposted by Erin DohertyNew preprint 👉Doudna x Bryant x Jacobsen x Savage collaboration! Work led by @zehanzhou.bsky.social, I. Saffarian-Deemyad, @honglue.bsky.social, T. Weiss We dissect how stepwise DNA unwinding gates TnpB genome editing, revealing how unwound DNA states enhance cleavage www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyOSTP has issued a request for information, please share with them your ideas for how to improve government functions related to science funding and policy www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyDivergent viral phosphodiesterases for immune signaling evasion Structure-based searches reveal exceptional diversity among viral 2H phosphodiesterases across the virome that evade immunity by degrading oligonucleotides www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyViral enzymes degrade to evade Preview of work identifying & characterizing diverse families of viral two-histidine phosphodiesterase enzymes that degrade nucleotide-based signaling molecules, each with distinct substrate specificities. www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyRound 1 of the 2025 Organic Reaction Championship ends today at midnight! Will the Diels–Alder Reaction maintain its legacy dominance? Can the Grignard Reaction overcome its temperament? Vote for your favorite reaction! #ACSOrganic #amplifyorganic zurl.co/DTEvX
- A very nice Preview of our work in @cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social this morning from Chrishan Fernando & Nicole D. Marino! www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
- Reposted by Erin Doherty✨New preprint! 🧵1/4 Excited to share our work on AI-guided design of minimal RNA-guided nucleases. Amazing work by @petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @evandeturk.bsky.social et al! Multi-lab collaboration @banfieldlab.bsky.social @jhdcate.bsky.social @jacobsenucla.bsky.social🧬 🔗👇
- Reposted by Erin DohertyExcellent story from @aniloza.bsky.social and colleague at STAT on the MOSAIC program. www.statnews.com/2025/12/08/t... 1/4
- Reposted by Erin DohertyThis is a neat paper. Especially liked the use of fluoro nucleotides. The specificity and structure of DNA cross-linking by the gut bacterial genotoxin colibactin | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyI’m happy to share our new preprint! We uncovered the full diversity of bacterial TIR-based antiviral immune signaling, massively expanded the known diversity of Thoeris systems, and revealed conservation of TIR-derived immune signals across the tree of life. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyTomorrow (Thursday) at the Systems Virology Journal Club, Noor Youssef will present her work with Debbie Marks on developing an AI model that predicts how viruses evolve to evade the immune response. Paper: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40345199/
- 🚨 Systems Virology Journal Club – 8th Series! 🚨 #BillSchneider and I are delighted to announce another round of cutting-edge talks in #SystemsVirology! 🦠💡 Join us and an outstanding lineup of speakers, starting Oct 30. Free registration: shiraweingartengabbay.com/systems-viro... 🔬✨
- Reposted by Erin DohertyADAR1 editing is necessary for only a small subset of cytosolic dsRNAs to evade MDA5-mediated autoimmunity @natgenet.nature.com @stanforduniversity.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Reposted by Erin Doherty📢 We have multiple open PhD positions to study bacterial immune systems using cutting-edge cryo-EM, microbiology, and biochemistry in our group! Join us and uncover how bacterial defenses eliminate predators and engineer next-gen biotech tools. 🔥 Apply by Jan 8, 2026 Details: phd.pages.ista.ac.at
- Reposted by Erin DohertySuper cool work by @erinedoherty.bsky.social and @jnoms.bsky.social ! 💪🏼 Viruses hack bacterial immunity by breaking down the nucleotide signals that trigger defence 🦠🧬
- Work I co-led with @jnoms.bsky.social is now online at @cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social ! We revealed a previously unrealized diversity of viral immune-evasion proteins that selectively destroy different cyclic nucleotide signals used in bacterial immunity. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
- Reposted by Erin Doherty1/2 New from co-first authors @erinedoherty.bsky.social and @jnoms.bsky.social of the @doudna-lab.bsky.social — Bacteria fight off viruses using tiny molecular “alarm signals” made of nucleotides. To survive, viruses must find ways to shut these signals down.
- Reposted by Erin DohertySo happy to see this work out! Was such a pleasure to co-lead this effort with Erin. Do you like viral immune evasion, and using protein structure to study immune antagonists? Give it a read!
- Work I co-led with @jnoms.bsky.social is now online at @cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social ! We revealed a previously unrealized diversity of viral immune-evasion proteins that selectively destroy different cyclic nucleotide signals used in bacterial immunity. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
- Work I co-led with @jnoms.bsky.social is now online at @cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social ! We revealed a previously unrealized diversity of viral immune-evasion proteins that selectively destroy different cyclic nucleotide signals used in bacterial immunity. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
- Check out the summary from our bioRxiv here: bsky.app/profile/erin...
- Excited to share our new preprint co-led by @jnoms.bsky.social! Here we reveal an exceptional diversity of viral 2H phosphodiesterases (PDEs) that enable immune evasion by selectively degrading oligonucleotide-based messengers. This 2H PDE fold has evolved striking substrate breath & specificity.
- Such a privilege to see my summer mentee present her work at #ABRCMS2025!
- This whole thread.
- So grateful for the collective action that reversed this decision - the PPFP will continue!
- Reposted by Erin DohertyThe President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, PPFP, has been a jewel in the crown for faculty development and recruitment at the University of California for years and the results have been an expanded faculty with almost 100% tenure rates — unprecedented success.
- Reposted by Erin DohertyHighly recommend this position for anyone looking for a technician job! Erin is a wonderful mentor to junior scientists, and her work is awesome!
- I'm hiring a lab technician to help me explore some exciting new questions about virus-host interactions! Biochemistry and/or mammalian cell culture experience is desired.
- Apply to work with us! careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psc/ucm/EMPL...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyA little late to the Panoptes party, but I’m delighted to share that our paper is published! 👁️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyMy pleasure @erinedoherty.bsky.social and @benmorehouse.bsky.social - for me this was the stand-out discovery of the last year in the field
- And thanks to @mfwhite2.bsky.social for this great perspective on both works! www.nature.com/articles/d41...
- Reposted by Erin Doherty
- Now online at @nature.com we show how the Panoptes defense system protects against viruses that attempt immune evasion - and expands our understanding of the role of oligonucleotides in immunity. Check out this work co-led with @benadler.bsky.social here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Now online at @nature.com we show how the Panoptes defense system protects against viruses that attempt immune evasion - and expands our understanding of the role of oligonucleotides in immunity. Check out this work co-led with @benadler.bsky.social here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Immune activation upon cyclic oligonucleotide depletion prevents the spread of viruses that attempt immune evasion by depleting host cyclic nucleotides.
- This also leads to a major constraint for the evolution of viral proteins that inhibit immune signaling, which we explored in recent pre-print co-led with @jnoms.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
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View full threadThanks to this fantastic, interdisciplinary team for making it happen! @benadler.bsky.social, Peter Yoon, Kendall Hsieh, @kenjmloi.bsky.social , Emily Armbruster, @arushi-lahiri.bsky.social , Cydni Bolling, Xander Wilcox, Amogha Akkati, Tony Iavarone, Joe Pogliano, and Jennifer Doudna
- Reposted by Erin DohertyOur story describing the Panoptes bacterial immune defense system is now finally peer-reviewed and published today! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyBacteria use a decoy defense molecule to set a trap for viruses @doudna-lab.bsky.social @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social @ucirvine.bsky.social @aaronwhiteley.bsky.social @colorado.edu @aesully98.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/d41... www.nature.com/articles/s41... www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyThank you to everyone who helped make this story happen! Obligatory meme to summarize: “How I imagine phage facing CBASS and mCpol”
- Reposted by Erin DohertyOut today in @nature.com, a new paper from @doudna-lab.bsky.social lab, co-first authors @erinedoherty.bsky.social + @benadler.bsky.social and collaborators at @ucsandiego.bsky.social unveils a powerful new defense strategy in the arms war between viruses + microbes. Read here: ow.ly/mPQI50X5g68
- Reposted by Erin Doherty
- 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...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyHuge congrats for such an amazing story, @benadler.bsky.social and @erinedoherty.bsky.social!!
- 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...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyToday 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...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyCongrats to Doudna lab postdoc @erinedoherty.bsky.social! 🎊
- Congrats to our 2025 MCB Outstanding Postdoc Award recipients who are being honored for their excellence in research, leadership, and service! 👏🎉Erin Doherty @erinedoherty.bsky.social, Kevin Eislmayr, Naohiro Kuwayama, & Joseph Lobel mcb.berkeley.edu/news-and-eve...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyThe AAUP stands in full solidarity w/HBCU faculty, staff, students, admin, & alumni. We call on law enforcement & governmental authorities to treat these threats w/ the seriousness they deserve, investigate thoroughly, hold responsible parties accountable, & strengthen preventive measures on campus.
- Reposted by Erin DohertyCongratulations to IGI's @erinedoherty.bsky.social who has been selected as one of the Berkeley Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellows! 🥂
- Reposted by Erin Doherty📢 Preprint out! Together with @reneechang.bsky.social @kranzuschlab.bsky.social and the amazing @soreklab.bsky.social, we explored viral sponges to map their diversity and function. Discovered huge diversity, including sponges that inhibit Pycsar & Type IV Thoeris! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
- I'm SO thrilled to share that I was selected as a Berkeley Chancellor's Postdoctoral fellow (!!!) This program offers mentoring and a hiring incentive to outstanding scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity at the UC.
- A step closer toward my goal of serving as a professor at an R1 institution! Faculty applications set to roll this fall 🎬✨
- Reposted by Erin DohertyThe beautiful, ever-expanding universe of viral proteins targeting nucleotide immune signals! Paper by @reneechang.bsky.social in @cp-molcell.bsky.social on a nucleotide sponge www.cell.com/molecular-ce... and preprint by @doudna-lab.bsky.social on viral nucleases www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
- Reposted by Erin DohertySo happy to share this new preprint, co-led by @erinedoherty.bsky.social! We found that 2H PDEs exceptionally widespread across the virome. They are also structurally diverse, which enables them to degrade nucleotide messengers involved in diverse bacterial immune systems.
- Excited to share our new preprint co-led by @jnoms.bsky.social! Here we reveal an exceptional diversity of viral 2H phosphodiesterases (PDEs) that enable immune evasion by selectively degrading oligonucleotide-based messengers. This 2H PDE fold has evolved striking substrate breath & specificity.
- Reposted by Erin DohertyNew pre-print from Doudna lab members @erinedoherty.bsky.social & @jnoms.bsky.social ✨ Here we explore how recurrent adaptation of a single anti-defense protein fold enables evasion of distinct immune systems.
- Excited to share our new preprint co-led by @jnoms.bsky.social! Here we reveal an exceptional diversity of viral 2H phosphodiesterases (PDEs) that enable immune evasion by selectively degrading oligonucleotide-based messengers. This 2H PDE fold has evolved striking substrate breath & specificity.
- Excited to share our new preprint co-led by @jnoms.bsky.social! Here we reveal an exceptional diversity of viral 2H phosphodiesterases (PDEs) that enable immune evasion by selectively degrading oligonucleotide-based messengers. This 2H PDE fold has evolved striking substrate breath & specificity.
- cGAS/DncV-like nucleotidyltransferases (CD-NTases) produce nucleotide messengers to stimulate antiviral responses. We previously found that 2H PDEs used by animal and bacterial viruses degrade these messengers, suggesting that other viruses may encode 2H PDEs involved in evasion of CD-NTase immunity
- We used DALI to align structures of 8 known viral 2H PDEs with predicted structures of phage proteins. This led to 84 alignments, many with less than 20% sequence identity but strong structural similarity to viral 2Hs. This revealed substantial numbers of previously unidentified phage 2H PDEs.
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View full threadThanks to many members of the @doudna-lab.bsky.social who made major contributions to this story! @benadler.bsky.social, Santiago Lopez, Kendall Hsieh, Nathan Price & Nurashau Blount
- Reposted by Erin DohertyExcited to finally share this work! We noticed a pair of genes - a nuclease and a protease - shuffles between antiviral systems. We show how proteolysis activates the nuclease, triggering defense in known and unknown immune contexts. tinyurl.com/2uwwy4ty
- Reposted by Erin DohertyA new preprint led by Sonomi Yamaguchi in our lab describes a bacterial anti-phage defense system named Clover that uses nucleotide signals to both activate and inhibit host immunity. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyHere we show how the type III signalling molecule SAM-AMP is bound and degraded by a specialised lyase enzyme encoded in cellular and phage genomes. More great work by @haotianchi.bsky.social and the team. @uniofstandrews.bsky.social academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
- Reposted by Erin Doherty📢Preprint out! Excited to share my final work from the @soreklab.bsky.social! We mined phage dark matter using structural features shared by anti-defense proteins (viral tools that help phages bypass bacterial immunity) to guide discovery. Found 3 new families targeting immune signaling!
- Reposted by Erin Doherty[This post could not be retrieved]
- Reposted by Erin DohertyHello everyone! I am pleased to share information on the first ever Computational Structural Virology Symposium, conducted August 4th on zoom and highlighting work in this emerging field. You can register for this event here: forms.gle/CNiqskMwQEuV.... Please re-post!
- Reposted by Erin DohertyI wanted to show support for these brave public servants and to allow others, including the scientific community, to join me. In partnership with @standupforscience.bsky.social, we have a way for you to do that... www.standupforscience.net/bethesda-dec...
- Reposted by Erin DohertyNIH funding supporting the HMMER and Infernal software projects has been terminated. NIH states that our work, as well as all other federally funded research at Harvard, is of no benefit to the US.
- Reposted by Erin DohertyCongrats to Doduna lab postdoc @erinedoherty.bsky.social for being selected as a Leading Edge Fellow! @leadingedgeprogram.bsky.social
- We are thrilled to announce the 2025 Leading Edge Fellows! 40 outstanding postdoctoral fellows doing pioneering research in a wide range of biological and biomedical disciplines. Learn more about these exceptional scientists: www.leadingedgesymposium.org/fellows
- I'm so thrilled to be a part of this outstanding community of scientists!!
- We are thrilled to announce the 2025 Leading Edge Fellows! 40 outstanding postdoctoral fellows doing pioneering research in a wide range of biological and biomedical disciplines. Learn more about these exceptional scientists: www.leadingedgesymposium.org/fellows
- Reposted by Erin DohertyYou have 2 days left to comment (by May 23 at 11:59 pm)! Go to the link if you don’t want your NSF or NIH program officers who took an oath to the constitution (not a political party) to instead be subject to the whims of a president and fired if they don’t “conform”.
- Reposted by Erin DohertyIf thousands of scientists say that political interference with grants assessment is going to destroy the scientific integrity of federal grants, the agency will have to explain why the rule doesn’t do that (which it can’t because this is precisely why the new regulation is being instituted). 11/n
- If you don’t want grant recipients to be chosen by political appointees at the NIH go comment!
- Anyone who would like to register an objection should go to this page and click on the green “public comment” button at the top: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20... . PLEASE DO THIS 8/n
- Reposted by Erin DohertyYikes
- Northwestern has not received any NIH funds since March. No written communication about why or what can be done. Thank you Ben Singer for raising awareness at #ATS2025
