Cover page article in Nucleic Acids Research

CRISPR-Cas systems are widespread accessory elements across bacterial and archaeal plasmids

Rafael Pinilla-Redondo, Jakob Russel, David Mayo-Muñoz, Shiraz A Shah, Roger A Garrett, Joseph Nesme, Jonas S Madsen, Peter C Fineran, Søren J Sørensen

Nucleic Acids Research, Volume 50, Issue 8

Overall, CRISPR-Cas systems constitute powerful barriers against MGE-mediated HGT in microbial communities. While the investigation of CRISPR-Cas biology has focused on chromosomally-encoded systems, our work uncovers their pervasive association with plasmids across a broad phylogenetic breadth, where they appear to play a major role in mediating plasmid-plasmid conflicts. We anticipate that MGE–MGE warfare likely constitutes an important, yet largely overlooked, factor influencing the dynamics of gene flow across microbiomes.

Read our findings in the cover page articles HERE

In the Media:

The article is highlighted in the Danish newspaper Weekend Avisen. See the articles by following the LINK 
You can also read the press release the home page of Department of Biology or by clicking PRESS RELEASE

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