Anti-CRISPR proteins: Counterattack of phages on bacterial defense (CRISPR/Cas) system

Abstract

Since the dawn of life there is a never ending strife between bacteria and phages. Both are perpetually changing their strategies to take over each other. CRISPR/Cas is the most widespread defense system used by bacteria against mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as phages, cojugative palsmids, transoposons, and pathogenicity islands. This system utilizes small guide RNA molecules to protect against phages infection and invasion by MGEs. Phages circumvent to these antiviral barriers by point mutation in PAM (protospacer-adjacent motif) sequence, genome rearrangements and by using anti-CRISPR proteins.

Keywords: CASCADE; CRISPR; anti-CRISPR proteins; bacteriophage; genome editing.