CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) systems are prokaryotic adaptive immune systems that provide protection against infection by parasitic mobile genetic elements, such as viruses and plasmids. CRISPR-Cas systems are found in approximately half of all sequenced bacterial genomes and in nearly all archaeal genomes. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the evolutionary ecology of CRISPR-Cas systems, highlight their value as model systems to answer fundamental questions concerning host–parasite coevolution, and explain how CRISPR-Cas systems can be useful tools for scientists across virtually all disciplines.

中文翻译：

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CRISPR的进化与生态

CRISPR（成簇的规则间隔短回文重复序列）-Cas（CRISPR 相关）系统是原核适应性免疫系统，可提供针对寄生移动遗传元件（如病毒和质粒）感染的保护。CRISPR-Cas 系统存在于大约一半的已测序细菌基因组和几乎所有古细菌基因组中。在这篇综述中，我们总结了我们目前对 CRISPR-Cas 系统进化生态学的理解，强调了它们作为模型系统的价值，以回答有关宿主 - 寄生虫共同进化的基本问题，并解释了 CRISPR-Cas 系统如何成为跨虚拟领域科学家的有用工具。所有学科。