Interactions between mobile genetic elements: An anti-phage gene in an integrative and conjugative element protects host cells from predation by a temperate bacteriophage

Most bacterial genomes contain horizontally acquired and transmissible mobile genetic elements, including temperate bacteriophages and integrative and conjugative elements. Little is known about how these elements interact and co-evolved as parts of their host genomes. In many cases, it is not known...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PLoS genetics 2022-02, Vol.18 (2), p.e1010065-e1010065
Main Authors: Johnson, Christopher M, Harden, M Michael, Grossman, Alan D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibiotics
Bacterial infections
Bacteriophages
Bacteriophages - genetics
Biology and Life Sciences
Cell death
Chromosomes
Conjugation, Genetic - genetics
Development and progression
DNA damage
DNA, Bacterial - genetics
Gene expression
Gene Transfer, Horizontal - genetics
Genetic aspects
Genomes
Genotype & phenotype
Host-bacteria relationships
Infections
Interleukin 1
Interspersed Repetitive Sequences - genetics
Medicine and Health Sciences
Microbiological research
Phages
Predation
Predatory Behavior
Research and Analysis Methods
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Summary:Most bacterial genomes contain horizontally acquired and transmissible mobile genetic elements, including temperate bacteriophages and integrative and conjugative elements. Little is known about how these elements interact and co-evolved as parts of their host genomes. In many cases, it is not known what advantages, if any, these elements provide to their bacterial hosts. Most strains of Bacillus subtilis contain the temperate phage SPß and the integrative and conjugative element ICEBs1. Here we show that the presence of ICEBs1 in cells protects populations of B. subtilis from predation by SPß, likely providing selective pressure for the maintenance of ICEBs1 in B. subtilis. A single gene in ICEBs1 (yddK, now called spbK for SPß killing) was both necessary and sufficient for this protection. spbK inhibited production of SPß, during both activation of a lysogen and following de novo infection. We found that expression spbK, together with the SPß gene yonE constitutes an abortive infection system that leads to cell death. spbK encodes a TIR (Toll-interleukin-1 receptor)-domain protein with similarity to some plant antiviral proteins and animal innate immune signaling proteins. We postulate that many uncharacterized cargo genes in ICEs may confer selective advantage to cells by protecting against other mobile elements.
ISSN:1553-7404
1553-7390
1553-7404
DOI:10.1371/journal.pgen.1010065