Dr Jens Hör
Molecular Principles of RNA Phages
Our research and approach
The research group led by Jens Hör investigates the dynamics of infection, host takeover, and anti-phage defense during the interaction between RNA phages and their hosts. They seek to understand the molecular principles underlying these processes to develop new and improved antibacterial strategies such as phage therapy.
The emerging crisis of antibiotic-resistant bacteria demands the development of novel treatment options for bacterial infections. Phages as the natural predators of bacteria can be exploited to support this process. However, for this, it is crucial to have suitable phages at hand and understand how they function. RNA phages, unlike DNA phages, are heavily understudied. Their characterization will help to unfold the full potential of phages in the design of novel antimicrobial therapies and offers the opportunity to yield new molecular tools and technologies.
Jens Hör’s group works on the molecular principles of RNA phages in the context of phage-host interactions. They seek to understand how RNA phages take over their hosts during infection and how the hosts defend themselves against the invading phages. In addition, they isolate and functionally characterize new RNA phages.
The group employs classical biochemistry and molecular biology methods as well as state-of-the-art high-throughput methods to analyze the unique lifestyle of RNA phages in concert with their host. Their overall goal is to advance our understanding of RNA phages and how they can be exploited to develop novel antibacterial strategies.
Publications
2023
Bacteria conjugate ubiquitin-like proteins to interfere with phage assembly
Hör J, Wolf SG, Sorek R (2023)
bioRxiv (Preprint)
DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.04.556158
Discovery of phage determinants that confer sensitivity to bacterial immune systems
Stokar-Avihail A, Fedorenko T, Hör J, Garb J, Leavitt A, Millman A, Shulman G, Wojtania N, Melamed S, Amitai G, Sorek R (2023)
Cell 186 (9): 1863-1876.e16
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.02.029
2022
Global profiling of the RNA and protein complexes of Escherichia coli by size exclusion chromatography followed by RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry (SEC-seq)
Chihara K, Gerovac M, Hör J, Vogel J (2022)
RNA 29 (1): 123-39
An expanded arsenal of immune systems that protect bacteria from phages
Millman A, Melamed S, Leavitt A, Doron S, Bernheim A, Hör J, Garb J, Bechon N, Brandis A, Lopatina A, Ofir G, Hochhauser D, Stokar-Avihail A, Tal N, Sharir S, Voichek M, Erez Z, Ferrer JLM, Dar D, Kacen A, Amitai G, Sorek R (2022)
Cell Host & Microbe 30 (11): 1556-1569.e5
DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2022.09.017
INRI-seq enables global cell-free analysis of translation initiation and off-target effects of antisense inhibitors
Hör J, Jung J, Ðurica-Mitic S, Barquist L, Vogel J (2022)
Nucleic Acids Research 50 (22): e128
DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac838
An overview of gene regulation in bacteria by small RNAs derived from mRNA 3' ends
Ponath F, Hör J, Vogel J (2022)
FEMS Microbiology Reviews 46 (5): fuac017
2021
Grad-seq identifies KhpB as a global RNA-binding protein in Clostridioides difficile that regulates toxin production
Lamm-Schmidt V, Fuchs M, Sulzer J, Gerovac M, Hör J, Dersch P, Vogel J, Faber F (2021)
microLife 2: uqab004
Analysis of the RNA and Protein Complexome by Grad-seq
Hör J, Vogel J (2021)
Methods in Molecular Biology 2300: 183-201
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1386-3_16
2020
Grad-seq shines light on unrecognized RNA and protein complexes in the model bacterium Escherichia coli
Hör J, Di Giorgio S, Gerovac M, Venturini E, Förstner KU, Vogel J (2020)
Nucleic Acids Research 48 (16): 9301-9319
DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa676
Grad-seq in a Gram-positive bacterium reveals exonucleolytic sRNA activation in competence control
Hör J, Garriss G, Di Giorgio S, Hack LM, Vanselow JT, Förstner KU, Schlosser A, Henriques-Normark B, Vogel J (2020)
The EMBO Journal 39 (9): e103852
Trans-Acting Small RNAs and Their Effects on Gene Expression in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica
Hör J, Matera G, Vogel J, Gottesman S, Storz G (2020)
EcoSal Plus 9 (1): 10.1128/ecosalplus.ESP-0030-2019
DOI: 10.1128/ecosalplus.ESP-0030-2019
2018
Bacterial RNA Biology on a Genome Scale
Hör J, Gorski SA, Vogel J (2018)
Molecular Cell 70 (5): 785-799
DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2017.12.023
2017
Discovery of new RNA classes and global RNA-binding proteins
Smirnov A, Schneider C, Hör J, Vogel J (2017)
Current Opinion in Microbiology 39: 152-160
DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2017.11.016
A Small Number of Low-abundance Bacteria Dominate Plant Species-specific Responses during Rhizosphere Colonization
Dawson W, Hör J, Egert M, van Kleunen M, Pester M (2017)
Frontiers in Microbiology 8: 975
Global snapshots of bacterial RNA networks
Hör J, Vogel J (2017)
The EMBO Journal 36 (3): 245-247
Team members
Dr Jens Hör
Group Leader