New publications in Nature Microbiology and in Nature Methods

Section of Microbiology publishes two new articles: in Nature Microbiology and in Nature Methods.

Broad-spectrum anti-CRISPR proteins facilitate horizontal gene transfer

Caroline Mahendra, Kathleen A. Christie, Beatriz A. Osuna, Rafael Pinilla-Redondo, Benjamin P. Kleinstiver and Joseph Bondy-Denomy.

Nature Microbiology | VOL 5 | March 2020 |

Short abstract

CRISPR–Cas adaptive immune systems protect bacteria and archaea against their invading genetic parasites, including bacteriophages/ viruses and plasmids. In response to this immunity, many phages have anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins that inhibit
CRISPR–Cas targeting. To date, anti-CRISPR genes have primarily been discovered in phage or prophage genomes. Here, we
uncovered acr loci on plasmids and other conjugative elements present in Firmicutes using the Listeria acrIIA1 gene as a marker.

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Nicole D. Marino, Rafael Pinilla-Redondo, Bálint Csörgő and Joseph Bondy-Denomy.

Nature Methods |doi.org/10.1038/s41592-020-0771-6|

Short abstract

Clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) genes, a diverse family
of prokaryotic adaptive immune systems, have emerged as a biotechnological tool and therapeutic. The discovery of protein
inhibitors of CRISPR-Cas systems, called anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins, enables the development of more controllable and precise
CRISPR-Cas tools. Here we discuss applications of Acr proteins for post-translational control of CRISPR-Cas systems in
prokaryotic and mammalian cells, organisms and ecosystems.

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