A host of armor: Prokaryotic immune strategies against mobile genetic elements

David Mayo-Muñoz; Rafael Pinilla-Redondo; Nils Birkholz; Peter C Fineran

doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112672

A host of armor: Prokaryotic immune strategies against mobile genetic elements

Cell Rep. 2023 Jul 25;42(7):112672. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112672. Epub 2023 Jun 21.

Authors

David Mayo-Muñoz¹, Rafael Pinilla-Redondo², Nils Birkholz³, Peter C Fineran⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
² Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
³ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
⁴ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. Electronic address: peter.fineran@otago.ac.nz.

PMID: 37347666
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112672

Abstract

Prokaryotic adaptation is strongly influenced by the horizontal acquisition of beneficial traits via mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as viruses/bacteriophages and plasmids. However, MGEs can also impose a fitness cost due to their often parasitic nature and differing evolutionary trajectories. In response, prokaryotes have evolved diverse immune mechanisms against MGEs. Recently, our understanding of the abundance and diversity of prokaryotic immune systems has greatly expanded. These defense systems can degrade the invading genetic material, inhibit genome replication, or trigger abortive infection, leading to population protection. In this review, we highlight these strategies, focusing on the most recent discoveries. The study of prokaryotic defenses not only sheds light on microbial evolution but also uncovers novel enzymatic activities with promising biotechnological applications.

Keywords: CP: Microbiology; abortive infection; mobile genetic element; phage; plasmid; prokaryotic immune systems.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bacteriophages* / genetics
Genome
Interspersed Repetitive Sequences / genetics
Plasmids
Prokaryotic Cells*