The phage‐host arms race: Shaping the evolution of microbes
Top Cited Papers
- 26 October 2010
- Vol. 33 (1), 43-51
- https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.201000071
Abstract
Bacteria, the most abundant organisms on the planet, are outnumbered by a factor of 10 to 1 by phages that infect them. Faced with the rapid evolution and turnover of phage particles, bacteria have evolved various mechanisms to evade phage infection and killing, leading to an evolutionary arms race. The extensive co‐evolution of both phage and host has resulted in considerable diversity on the part of both bacterial and phage defensive and offensive strategies. Here, we discuss the unique and common features of phage resistance mechanisms and their role in global biodiversity. The commonalities between defense mechanisms suggest avenues for the discovery of novel forms of these mechanisms based on their evolutionary traits.Keywords
This publication has 118 references indexed in Scilit:
- Self-targeting by CRISPR: gene regulation or autoimmunity?Trends in Genetics, 2010
- Antagonistic coevolution accelerates molecular evolutionNature, 2010
- Self versus non-self discrimination during CRISPR RNA-directed immunityNature, 2010
- RNA-Guided RNA Cleavage by a CRISPR RNA-Cas Protein ComplexCell, 2009
- Restriction Endonuclease Inhibitor IPI* of Bacteriophage T4: A Novel Structure for a Dedicated TargetJournal of Molecular Biology, 2007
- A Type IV Modification Dependent Restriction Nuclease that Targets Glucosylated Hydroxymethyl Cytosine Modified DNAsJournal of Molecular Biology, 2006
- Exclusion of Glucosyl-Hydroxymethylcytosine DNA Containing Bacteriophages Is Overcome by the Injected Protein Inhibitor IPI*Journal of Molecular Biology, 2006
- The multidrug-resistant human pathogen Clostridium difficile has a highly mobile, mosaic genomeNature Genetics, 2006
- The Repetitive DNA Elements Called CRISPRs and Their Associated Genes: Evidence of Horizontal Transfer Among ProkaryotesJournal of Molecular Evolution, 2006
- High abundance of viruses found in aquatic environmentsNature, 1989