Skip to main content
NIH Office of Intramural Research

Navigation controls

  • Search
  • Menu

Main navigation

  • About OIR
    • OIR Leadership & Staff
      • Nina F. Schor, M.D., Ph.D.
      • Roland A. Owens, Ph.D.
      • Janice Lee, D.D.S., M.D., M.S.
      • Andy Baxevanis, Ph.D.
      • Charles R. Dearolf, Ph.D.
      • Nadine Fonrose, M.A.
      • Arlyn García-Pérez, Ph.D.
      • Carl Hashimoto, Ph.D.
      • Kathryn M. Partin, Ph.D.
      • Rena Rodriguez, B.S.
      • Dierdre S. Andrews
      • Diana Gomez
      • Chanee' M. Jackson
      • Karen Nemes
      • Risa Isonaka, Ph.D.
      • Parker Ruhl, M.D., M.H.S.
      • Lisa L. Coronado, M.B.A.
      • Bonny Harbinger, Ph.D., J.D.
      • David B. Resnik, J.D., Ph.D.
      • Richard G. Wyatt, M.D.
    • Intramural Targeted Anti-COVID-19 (ITAC) Awards
    • DDIR Innovation Awards
    • Long-Term IRP Planning
    • OIR Offices
  • Sourcebook
    • Board of Scientific and Clinical Directors
      • Board of Scientific and Clinical Directors Membership
      • NIH IRP Scientific Directors
      • NIH IRP Clinical Directors
      • Board of Scientific and Clinical Directors Subcommittees
    • Committees Advisory to the DDIR
      • Assembly of Scientists (AOS)
      • Committee on Scientific Conduct and Ethics (CSCE)
      • Central Tenure Committee (CTC)
      • Chairs of the Boards of Scientific Counselors
      • Tenure-Track Investigators Committee
      • Women Scientist Advisors (WSA) Committee
      • Animal Research Advisory Committee (ARAC)
      • Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) Committee
      • Facilities Working Group
      • NIH Space Recommendation Board
      • PHS Technology Transfer Policy Board
    • Processes for Reviewing NIH Intramural Science
      • Boards of Scientific Counselors (BSC)
        • Process for Appeal to a BSC Review
      • Role and Review of Scientific Directors and Clinical Directors
      • Blue Ribbon Panel Reviews of IC Intramural Research Programs
    • Intramural Program Oversight
      • Electronic Lab Notebooks
        • Intramural Electronic Lab Notebook Policy
        • Frequently Asked Questions About the Use of ELNs at NIH
      • Human Subjects Research
      • Intramural Data Sharing
        • 2023 NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy
        • Genomic Data Sharing
        • Human Data Sharing
        • Guide to FDAAA Reporting Research Results
          • Frequently Asked Questions: NIH Clinical Trial Definition
          • Assistance Available to Help with Results Reporting to ClinicalTrials.gov
            • Points of Contact for FDAAA Compliance at ICs
      • IRP Research Security
      • Laboratory Safety
      • Management Controls Survey
    • Intramural Administrative Management Council
      • List of Council Members
      • List of Trans-NIH Committees
    • Personnel
      • IPDs and Appointment Mechanisms
        • Official List of Approved Intramural Professional Designations (IPDs)
        • Senior Investigator
        • Investigator
        • Senior Clinician
        • Senior Scientist
        • Assistant Clinical Investigator
        • Staff Clinician
        • Staff Scientist
          • Explanation of Staff Scientist Position and Titles to Academic Colleagues
        • Senior Research Assistant / Research Assistant
        • Adjunct Investigator
        • Scientist Emeritus
        • Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) Fellow
        • Visiting Fellow
        • ORISE Senior Fellow
        • Senior Clinical Fellow
        • Clinical Fellow
        • Senior Research Fellow
        • Research Fellow
          • Independent Research Scholar Program
        • Student Opportunities
        • Contractors
        • Guest Researchers / Special Volunteers
        • Research Collaborators
      • Faculty Development
        • 2024 OITE/OIR Professional Development Curriculum for NIH Faculty
        • Senior Advisors for Faculty Development
      • Policies and Recruitment Processes
        • 5-Year / 8-Year Duration Rule
        • Addendum to On-Site Research Collaborators (RC) Policies: On-Site RC Conducting Human Subjects Research at NIH
        • Clarification on Searches for Scientific Director and Clinical Director
        • Departing Staff Request to Remove Copies of NIH Records
        • Extension Exceptions for Non-FTE Trainees for COVID-19
        • Fair Review Principles for Nominations of Staff Scientists for Associate Scientist and Senior Associate Scientist Titles
        • Guide for Avoiding Undue Foreign Interference with IRP Research
        • Guidelines for Parental/Family Excused Absence for IRTAs, CRTAs, and Visiting Fellows
        • Mandated Training for Scientific Staff Working in NIH Facilities
        • Policy for a Letter of Agreement for Staff Scientists
        • Policy for Reassignment or Early Termination of Awards to Postbaccalaureate Fellows
        • Policy for Reassignment or Early Termination of Awards to Postdoctoral Fellows
        • Policy for Reassignment or Early Termination of Awards to Predoctoral Fellows
        • Policy for Use of Contract Workers to Support Scientific Functions in the IRP
        • Policy on Use of English for Official Scientific Communication in NIH Laboratories and Branches
        • Postdoctoral Fellows (IRTA/CRTA/VF) Temporary Exceptional Extensions Policy
        • Roles of Lab and Branch Chiefs (or Equivalent)
        • Telework Policies for IRTA/CRTA and Visiting Fellows
        • Working with Displaced Title 42 Staff Scientists/Clinicians
      • Quality-of-Life Features
      • Sabbaticals
        • NIAAA Sabbatical Program
        • NEI Sabbatical Program
        • NICHD Sabbatical Program
        • PHS Foreign Work / Study Program Policy
      • Opportunities for Short Assignments / Details at the NIH
    • Tenure in the NIH Intramural Research Program
      • Tenure-Track Overview
      • Search & Selection
        • Search Process for Senior Investigators, Tenure-Track Investigators, Senior Clinicians and Senior Scientists
      • Additional Tenure-Track Policies
      • Resources
      • Policy on IC Tenure Review Committees
      • Tenure Overview
      • Search & Selection
      • Criteria for Tenure at the NIH
      • De-Tenuring Process
    • Awards, Fellowships, & Grant Opportunities
      • The Director’s Challenge Innovation Award Program
        • 2020 Director’s Challenge Awards
        • 2022 Director’s Challenge Awards
        • 2024 Director’s Challenge Awards
      • Early Career (Bridge) Awards Open to IRP Scientists
      • Eligibility of Intramural Investigators for NIH Common Fund Awards
      • K99/R00 Grant Award Information
        • Application Approval Process and Additional Information
        • K99/R00 Environment and Institutional Commitment Statement
        • Update from Scientific Directors
      • NIAID Support of Intramural Biodefense Research from ICs Other Than NIAID
    • Ethical Conduct
      • Research Misconduct
        • Anonymous Reporting of Research Misconduct Concerns
        • Taraswi Banerjee, Ph.D.
        • Alfredo R Sancho, Ph.D., M.P.H.
      • Guidelines on Conduct of Research
      • Research Ethics
        • NIH Policies
          • Intramural / Extramural Collaborations
            • NIH Staff Involvement on Extramural Awards - Cooperative Agreements
              • Opportunities for Collaborative Research at the Clinical Center (U01)
              • NIH Bench-to-Bedside Program
            • Activities with Outside Organizations
          • NIH Human Biospecimen Program
            • Frequently Asked Questions
            • List of Biospecimen Liaisons
          • Investigation of Allegations of Research Misconduct
        • NIH Guidelines
      • Authorship Guidelines and Resources
        • Authorship Resources
        • NIH IRP Authorship Conflict Resolution Process
      • Special Research Considerations
        • Dual-Use Research
        • Policy on the Ordering or Provision of Synthetic Nucleic Acids in the IRP
        • Human Stem Cell Use
          • Human Embryonic Stem Cell (hESCs) Use
          • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) Use
          • Human Embryo Research and Cloning Prohibitions
        • Policies & Procedures for Human Fetal Tissue Research
      • Responsible Conduct of Research Training
        • Instruction in Responsible Conduct of Research - Postdoc IRTA, CRTA, VF, Research Associates
          • Reproducibility Training
          • Introduction to “My Laboratory”
        • Instruction in Responsible Conduct of Research - Postbacs and GPP Students
        • Resources for Training Directors
        • Annual Review of Ethics (Case Studies)
          • Research Cases for Use by the NIH Community
            • 2021 Ethics Case Facilitator Training
      • Government Ethics
        • Guidelines for Non-FTEs (Trainees) for NIH-Related Activities, Outside Activities, and Awards
      • Bioethics
    • Mentoring & Training
      • Guide to Training and Mentoring
      • Guidelines for Mentors at NIH
      • Guidelines for Trainees at NIH
      • Guidelines for Annual Progress Review of Trainees
      • Scientific Director Policy Updates for Mentors and Trainees
      • Goals for Enhanced Mentoring in the IRP
      • FelCom Mentoring Committee
      • Mentoring Cases for Discussions
    • Submitting Research Publications
      • PubMed Central (PMC) Deposition Requirements
      • Intramural Directions for Submitting to PubMed Central via NIHMS
      • NIH Publishing Agreement Forms
        • Procedures for Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
      • Publication and Abstract Clearance
    • Intramural Research Communications & Resources
      • Annual Reports and Bibliographies
  • Lectures & Events
    • WALS
      • About WALS
      • Current Lecture Season
      • Past Lecture Seasons & Speakers
        • Browse by Season
        • Browse by Speaker
      • Named & Honorific Lectures
        • NIH Director’s Lecture
        • Rolla E. Dyer Lecture
        • G. Burroughs Mider Lecture
        • Marshall W. Nirenberg Lecture
        • Margaret Pittman Lecture
        • J. Edward Rall Cultural Lecture
        • Astute Clinician Lecture
        • Robert S. Gordon Jr. Lecture
        • George Khoury Lecture
        • Florence Mahoney Lecture on Aging
        • William E. Paul Lecture
        • DeWitt Stetten Jr. Lecture
      • Continuing Medical Education Credits
    • NIH Research Festival
      • The NIH Research Festival is the showcase for intramural research
      • Visit Website
  • SIGs
    • SIGs by Name
    • SIGs by Scientific Focus Area
      • Biomedical Engineering and Biophysics
      • Cancer Biology
      • Cell Biology
      • Chemical Biology
      • Chromosome Biology
      • Clinical Research
      • Computational Biology
      • Developmental Biology
      • Epidemiology
      • Genetics and Genomics
      • Health Disparities
      • Immunology
      • Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
      • Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
      • Molecular Pharmacology
      • Neuroscience
      • RNA Biology
      • Social and Behavioral Sciences
      • Stem Cell Biology
      • Structural Biology
      • Systems Biology
      • Virology
  • IRP Website
    • A premier environment where creative scientists conduct fundamental research for the betterment of human health – we are the IRP
    • Visit Website
  • The NIH Catalyst
    • A publication for and about the NIH intramural research community
    • Visit Website
  • NIDB
    • The NIH Intramural Database collects and disseminates information about research being performed in the Intramural Programs
    • Visit Website

The Great Escape: Phage Lysis and Its Control

DeWitt Stetten Jr. Lecture | Wednesday, November 8, 2023 | 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET

Ryland Young, Ph.D.

University Distinguished Professor

Texas A&M, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics

ryland.young@ag.tamu.edu

Website

Ryland Young, Ph.D., is the director of the Texas A&M Center for Phage Technology, a University Distinguished Professor, Regents Professor and the Sadie Hatfield Professor of Agriculture in the Texas A&M Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.

Over his 44-year career at the Texas A&M College of Medicine and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Young has made broad advances in the understanding of bacteria-infecting viruses called bacteriophages, or phages. This work was performed in collaboration with many students and colleagues. Overall, Young’s work illuminated the ancient “arms race” between phages and bacteria and shed light on ways to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.

Young earned his doctorate in molecular biology in 1975 as a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow at the University of Texas at Dallas. He was a National Institutes of Health, NIH, Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard Medical School, where he discovered a bacteriophage lambda gene involved in lysis. 

In 2003, he was elected as a Fellow of the American Society for Microbiology and a Fellow of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science. He was named the Sadie Hatfield Professor of Agriculture in 2006, a Texas A&M Regents Professor in 2016 and a Texas A&M University Distinguished Professor in 2018. 

NIGMS has continuously supported Dr. Young’s research since 1980. He is currently supported by the NIGMS Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award program through grant R35GM136396.

Summary

https://videocast.nih.gov/watch=51120

Lysis is the breakdown of a cell caused by damage to its envelope, which in a bacterial cell, consists of its cytoplasmic membrane and a rigid cell wall. Bacterial lysis was long thought to be a passive process that occurred when the cell couldn’t maintain its envelope structure; indeed, many important antibiotics block extension and maintenance of the cell wall. Viruses that infect bacteria, called bacteriophages (or phages), were also thought to achieve host lysis in the same way. However, Dr. Ry Young, distinguished professor emeritus at Texas A&M University in College Station, discovered that instead, phage lysis is an elaborately regulated and scheduled event that involves a biological clock.

Phages have evolved at least two systems for lysis of the host bacterial cell. One involves multiple genes and proteins, conducted in a precisely timed manner. The second method involves a single protein capable of independently triggering bacterial lysis, and these proteins may provide alternative strategies for developing antibiotic therapies.

Dr. Young has dedicated his career spanning over 4 decades to the study of phages, which continue to surprise and fascinate him with their elegant and highly evolved methods and the hypothesis-driven experimentation they provide. Much of the modern field of phage lysis comes directly from Dr. Young’s research. Even when others turned away from the field, he saw the potential to use phages, with their facile genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry, to ask specific biological questions. Recently, the scientific community has started looking to phages as a tool for developing antibiotic therapeutics and manipulating human microbiota.

Learning Objectives: 

1. To understand the molecular mechanisms of Multigene Lysis, by which dsDNA phages cause the lysis of the host cell in a precisely timed manner.
2. To understand the contrasting single-gene strategies (SGL) used by the much smaller ssDNA and ssRNA phage for host lysis.
3. To pose the question why are Sgl mechanisms restricted to small phages.

This page was last updated on Thursday, November 2, 2023

WALS navigation

  • About WALS
  • Current Lecture Season
  • Past Lecture Seasons & Speakers
    • Browse by Season
    • Browse by Speaker
  • Named & Honorific Lectures
    • NIH Director’s Lecture
    • Rolla E. Dyer Lecture
    • G. Burroughs Mider Lecture
    • Marshall W. Nirenberg Lecture
    • Margaret Pittman Lecture
    • J. Edward Rall Cultural Lecture
    • Astute Clinician Lecture
    • Robert S. Gordon Jr. Lecture
    • George Khoury Lecture
    • Florence Mahoney Lecture on Aging
    • William E. Paul Lecture
    • DeWitt Stetten Jr. Lecture
  • Continuing Medical Education Credits
WALS 2024–2025 WALS Season season poster

WALS

  • View WALS Videocasts
  • Follow WALS on X
  • Email
  • Print
  • Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn

Main navigation

  • About OIR
    • OIR Leadership & Staff
    • Intramural Targeted Anti-COVID-19 (ITAC) Awards
    • DDIR Innovation Awards
    • Long-Term IRP Planning
    • OIR Offices
  • Sourcebook
    • Board of Scientific and Clinical Directors
    • Committees Advisory to the DDIR
    • Processes for Reviewing NIH Intramural Science
    • Intramural Program Oversight
    • Intramural Administrative Management Council
    • Personnel
    • Tenure in the NIH Intramural Research Program
    • Awards, Fellowships, & Grant Opportunities
    • Ethical Conduct
    • Mentoring & Training
    • Submitting Research Publications
    • Intramural Research Communications & Resources
  • Lectures & Events
    • WALS
    • NIH Research Festival
  • SIGs
    • SIGs by Name
    • SIGs by Scientific Focus Area
  • IRP Website
    • A premier environment where creative scientists conduct fundamental research for the betterment of human health – we are the IRP
    • Visit Website
  • The NIH Catalyst
    • A publication for and about the NIH intramural research community
    • Visit Website
  • NIDB
    • The NIH Intramural Database collects and disseminates information about research being performed in the Intramural Programs
    • Visit Website
  • Department of Health and Human Services
  • National Institutes of Health
  • USA.gov

Footer

  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • HHS Vulnerability Disclosure
  • Web Policies and Notices
  • Site Map
  • Search