Resistance is not futile: Bacterial ‘innate’ and CRISPR-Cas ‘adaptive’ immune systems

Abstract

Bacteria are under a constant pressure from their viruses (phages) and other mobile genetic elements. They protect them-selves through a range of defence strategies, which can be broadly classified as ‘innate’ and ‘adaptive’. The bacterial innate immune systems include defences provided by restriction modification and abortive infection, among others. Bacterial adaptive immunity is elicited by a diverse range of CRISPR-Cas systems. Here, I discuss our research on both innate and adaptive phage resistance mechanisms and some of the evasion strategies employed by phages.