Abstract
Bacteria are under constant predation from viruses, called bacteriophages (phages). This threat has driven the evolution of multiple defense systems, including the CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR associated genes) immune pathway. Phages are not passive bystanders in their CRISPR-mediated demise, however, as many have developed potent protein inhibitors of the bacterial adaptive immune system. Here, I review the work that led to the discovery of many distinct "anti-CRISPR" proteins. Furthermore, I outline how understanding their mechanisms of action has provided a suite of specific and high-affinity reagents to modulate and study CRISPR-Cas applications.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Bacteria / genetics
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Bacteriophages / metabolism
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CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 / antagonists & inhibitors*
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CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 / genetics
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CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 / metabolism
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CRISPR-Associated Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
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CRISPR-Associated Proteins / genetics
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CRISPR-Associated Proteins / metabolism
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CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics
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Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats
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DNA / chemistry
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DNA / metabolism
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Gene Editing
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Humans
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Protein Binding
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Streptococcus pyogenes / enzymology
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Viral Proteins / metabolism*
Substances
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CRISPR-Associated Proteins
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Viral Proteins
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DNA
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CRISPR-Associated Protein 9
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Cas9 endonuclease Streptococcus pyogenes