Coevolution between bacterial CRISPR-Cas systems and their bacteriophages

CRISPR-Cas systems provide bacteria and archaea with adaptive, heritable immunity against their viruses (bacteriophages and phages) and other parasitic genetic elements. CRISPR-Cas systems are highly diverse, and we are only beginning to understand their relative importance in phage defense. In this...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cell host & microbe 2021-05, Vol.29 (5), p.715-725
Main Authors: Watson, Bridget N J, Steens, Jurre A, Staals, Raymond H J, Westra, Edze R, van Houte, Stineke
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:CRISPR-Cas systems provide bacteria and archaea with adaptive, heritable immunity against their viruses (bacteriophages and phages) and other parasitic genetic elements. CRISPR-Cas systems are highly diverse, and we are only beginning to understand their relative importance in phage defense. In this review, we will discuss when and why CRISPR-Cas immunity against phages evolves, and how this, in turn, selects for the evolution of immune evasion by phages. Finally, we will discuss our current understanding of if, and when, we observe coevolution between CRISPR-Cas systems and phages, and how this may be influenced by the mechanism of CRISPR-Cas immunity.
ISSN:1931-3128
1934-6069
DOI:10.1016/j.chom.2021.03.018