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The arms race between bacteria and their phage foes

Nature volume 577, pages 327–336 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Bacteria are under immense evolutionary pressure from their viral invaders—bacteriophages. Bacteria have evolved numerous immune mechanisms, both innate and adaptive, to cope with this pressure. The discovery and exploitation of CRISPR–Cas systems have stimulated a resurgence in the identification and characterization of anti-phage mechanisms. Bacteriophages use an extensive battery of counter-defence strategies to co-exist in the presence of these diverse phage defence mechanisms. Understanding the dynamics of the interactions between these microorganisms has implications for phage-based therapies, microbial ecology and evolution, and the development of new biotechnological tools. Here we review the spectrum of anti-phage systems and highlight their evasion by bacteriophages.

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Fig. 1: Anti-phage mechanisms act at different stages of the phage life cycle.
Fig. 2: Preventing phage adsorption.
Fig. 3: RM-like systems.
Fig. 4: CRISPR–Cas adaptive immunity and how phages overcome the CRISPR–Cas adaptive immune system.

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Acknowledgements

Research in the Fineran laboratory on phage defence systems is supported by the Marsden Fund, Royal Society of New Zealand, the Bio-Protection Centre of Research Excellence and the University of Otago. We thank N. Birkholz for providing input on the figures and members of the Fineran laboratory for discussions and comments on the manuscript.

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  1. These authors contributed equally: Hannah G. Hampton, Bridget N. J. Watson

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Hannah G. Hampton, Bridget N. J. Watson & Peter C. Fineran

  2. Environment and Sustainability Institute, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, UK

    Bridget N. J. Watson

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H.G.H., B.N.J.W. and P.C.F. contributed equally to all aspects of the manuscript.

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Hampton, H.G., Watson, B.N.J. & Fineran, P.C. The arms race between bacteria and their phage foes. Nature 577, 327–336 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1894-8

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