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Anti-CRISPR Phages Cooperate to Overcome CRISPR-Cas Immunity

32 Pages Posted: 4 Jun 2018 Publication Status: Published

See all articles by Mariann Landsberger

Mariann Landsberger

University of Exeter - Environment and Sustainability Institute; University of Exeter - Centre for Ecology and Conservation

Sylvain Gandon

University of Montpellier - CEFE UMR 5175

Sean Meaden

University of Exeter - Environment and Sustainability Institute; University of Exeter - Centre for Ecology and Conservation

Hélène Chabas

University of Exeter - Environment and Sustainability Institute; University of Exeter - Centre for Ecology and Conservation

Angus Buckling

University of Exeter - Environment and Sustainability Institute; University of Exeter - Centre for Ecology and Conservation

Edze R. Westra

University of Exeter - Environment and Sustainability Institute; University of Exeter - Centre for Ecology and Conservation

Stineke van Houte

University of Exeter - Environment and Sustainability Institute; University of Exeter - Centre for Ecology and Conservation

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Abstract

Some phages encode anti-CRISPR (acr) genes, which antagonize bacterial CRISPR-Cas immune systems by binding components of its machinery, but it is less clear how deployment of these acr genes impacts phage replication and epidemiology. Here we demonstrate that bacteria with CRISPR-Cas resistance are still partially immune to Acr-encoding phage. As a consequence, Acr-phages often need to cooperate in order to overcome CRISPR resistance, with a first phage taking down the host CRISPR-Cas immune system to allow a second Acr-phage to successfully replicate. This cooperation leads to epidemiological tipping points in which the initial density of Acr-phage tips the balance from phage extinction to a phage epidemic. Furthermore, both higher levels of CRISPR-Cas immunity and weaker Acr activities shift the tipping points towards higher phage densities. Collectively these data help to understand how interactions between phage-encoded immune suppressors and the CRISPR systems they target shape bacteria-phage population dynamics.

Suggested Citation

Landsberger, Mariann and Gandon, Sylvain and Meaden, Sean and Chabas, Hélène and Buckling, Angus and Westra, Edze R. and van Houte, Stineke, Anti-CRISPR Phages Cooperate to Overcome CRISPR-Cas Immunity (2018). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3188416 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3188416
This version of the paper has not been formally peer reviewed.

Mariann Landsberger

University of Exeter - Environment and Sustainability Institute

Penryn Campus
Penryn, TR10 9FE
United Kingdom

University of Exeter - Centre for Ecology and Conservation

Cornwall
United Kingdom

Sylvain Gandon

University of Montpellier - CEFE UMR 5175

1919 route de Mende
Montpellier Cedex 5, 34293
France

Sean Meaden

University of Exeter - Environment and Sustainability Institute

Penryn Campus
Penryn, TR10 9FE
United Kingdom

University of Exeter - Centre for Ecology and Conservation

Cornwall
United Kingdom

Hélène Chabas

University of Exeter - Environment and Sustainability Institute

Penryn Campus
Penryn, TR10 9FE
United Kingdom

University of Exeter - Centre for Ecology and Conservation

Cornwall
United Kingdom

Angus Buckling

University of Exeter - Environment and Sustainability Institute

Penryn Campus
Penryn, TR10 9FE
United Kingdom

University of Exeter - Centre for Ecology and Conservation

Cornwall
United Kingdom

Edze R. Westra (Contact Author)

University of Exeter - Environment and Sustainability Institute

Penryn Campus
Penryn, TR10 9FE
United Kingdom

University of Exeter - Centre for Ecology and Conservation

Cornwall
United Kingdom

Stineke Van Houte

University of Exeter - Environment and Sustainability Institute

Penryn Campus
Penryn, TR10 9FE
United Kingdom

University of Exeter - Centre for Ecology and Conservation

Cornwall
United Kingdom

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