Bacterial immune system that works backward discovered by Gladstone scientists
Unusual type VI retrons activate toxin production after infection, reversing known mechanism
Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have discovered a bacterial defense system that operates in reverse of previously known mechanisms, a finding that could open new avenues for gene editing and antibiotic development. The research, published in Molecular Cell on October 13, 2026, describes how type VI retrons produce little DNA or toxin in healthy cells but ramp up production when a virus attacks, triggering a self-destruct that protects the bacterial colony.