A new study reveals that thousands of the bacteria-attacking viruses known as bacteriophages contain the CRISPR system’s genetic sequences, suggesting they may deploy them against rival phages.
. They also examined phage genome sequences that had been posted to online databases and found even more instances of the CRISPR-carrying viruses. Although fewer than 1% of phages sport the sequences, the researchers did not expect"such a broad distribution of an anti-phage system in phages,” Doudna says.
Why would phages acquire a system that evolved to thwart them? The most likely reason, Doudna says, is to beat the competition. Multiple viruses can attack a bacterium at the same time, leading to"phage wars" inside an infected cell, she says. Bacteria are also vulnerable to rogue DNA strands known as plasmids that coerce the cells into copying them. By destroying these rivals with the CRISPR system, phages"can have the replication machinery all to themselves," Doudna says.
The phages presumably swiped these CRISPR system sequences from their microbial victims, she says. Since then, the viruses have customized the systems for their own ends. For instance, some phages seem to have lost the capacity to generate certain molecules that can kill bacteria, possibly to preserve their hosts to produce more phages.
The phages’ gene-editing tricks may inspire new biotechnology. For instance, most CRISPR-based approaches now rely on the enzyme Cas9 to cut DNA. However, Cas9 is so large it cannot fit into some viruses used to genetically modify cells. A number of phages, however, boast a slimmed-down version known as Cas-lambda that is about 50% smaller, Doudna’s and Banfield’s team found.
Microbiologist Joseph Bondy-Denomy of UC San Francisco says Doudna and Banfield displayed a"[John] Lennon-[Paul] McCartney" level of synergy in ferreting out so many CRISPR-bearing phages that had eluded other scientists. Still, he wants to see evidence that phages actually put their CRISPR systems to use when they invade bacteria. Bondy-Denomy also suspects many more phages that wield CRISPR are waiting to be discovered."The next step is more," he says.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Functional characterization of diverse type I-F CRISPR-associated transposonsAbstract. CRISPR-Cas systems generally provide adaptive immunity in prokaryotes through RNA-guided degradation of foreign genetic elements like bacteriophages a
Read more »
6 Candidates for Chicago Mayor File Thousands of Signatures to Get on Feb. 28 BallotWillie Wilson, Ja’Mal Green, state Rep. Kam Buckner, Paul Vallas, Brandon Johnson and Ald. Sophia King (4th Ward) all filed to run for mayor of Chicago.
Read more »
Oregon's governor pardons thousands for pot convictionsOregon Gov. Kate Brown has announced she is pardoning an estimated 45,000 people convicted of simple possession of marijuana, a month after President Joe Biden did the same under federal law
Read more »
Oregon's governor pardons thousands for pot convictionsOregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Monday she is pardoning an estimated 45,000 people convicted of simple possession of marijuana, a month after President Joe Biden did the same under federal law.
Read more »
Live N.J. power outage tracker: Jersey Shore towns hit with thousands of outages.The towns without power are concentrated in southern Monmouth County.
Read more »
This Woman Inspired Thousands To Share Their “Subtle Asian” Recipes, And They’re Equally Cute And DeliciousMaking the world a lovelier place one mooncake at a time. 🥮🌸🍰
Read more »