Assistant Professor
Accepting Rotation Students – Winter 2024 and Spring 2025
Research: Biochemistry and structural biology of anti-phage immunity
Honors & Awards
- Brown-Goldstein Award for Excellence in Postdoctoral Research (2023)
- Cancer Research Institute Irvington Fellowship (2019 – 2022)
- MIT School of Science Graduate Fellowship in Cancer Research (2015)
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2012 – 2015)
Research
Bacteria and the viruses that infect them, known as phage, are engaged in a molecular arms race that has been a major driver of genetic diversity and molecular innovation for billions of years. To survive, bacteria have evolved myriad immune systems to protect against phage infection and, in response, phage have developed many counter-adaptations to evade these defenses. Advances in genomics and bioinformatics have made it possible to identify new systems much faster than their molecular mechanisms can be determined. The Jenson lab is interested in understanding the mechanistic details of these systems.
Our lab primarily focuses on studies of bacterial defense systems that share structural and functional homology with immune factors found in humans. One example is cGAS, a key component in both bacterial and human immunity. In bacteria, cGAS-like proteins trigger signaling that culminates in cell-death to prevent phage propagation. In humans, cGAS initiates a signaling cascade that promotes inflammatory responses. Thus, by studying how bacterial cGAS is regulated, we can gain insights into the evolution and function of both bacterial and human immunity as well as to contribute to a better understanding of fundamental biological processes such as infection sensing. Further, because human cGAS plays an important role in many disease-related contexts including antimicrobial responses, anti-tumor immunity, and aging, we are keenly interested in identifying opportunities to apply lessons learned from the bacteria/phage conflict to improve human health.
We apply techniques from a wide variety of disciplines including biochemistry, biophysics, genetics, bioinformatics, and structural biology to study the bacteria/phage conflict both in vivo and in vitro. Because our work is highly interdisciplinary, we value collaboration, encourage creativity, and welcome contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
Publications
Link to all publications for Justin Jenson
Office phone: (919) 843-3390
CB# 7260, Office: Genetic Medicine 3111
Lab: Genetic Medicine 3106
Email Justin_Jenson@med.unc.edu
Jenson Lab website
