Dr. Bondy-Denomy is interested in elucidating the molecular strategies deployed by bacterial viruses (phages) when they infect their host. Bacteria face a constant threat of phage infection, which has driven the evolution of numerous anti-phage immune systems, including restriction enzymes and CRISPR-Cas systems. The Bondy-Denomy lab uses a combination of genetic, molecular and biochemical approaches to discover and characterize the factors that control this arms race, striving to better understand microbial ecosystems and develop better treatments for bacterial pathogens.