Impact of CRISPR immunity on the emergence and virulence of bacterial pathogens

Asma Hatoum-Aslan; Luciano A Marraffini

doi:10.1016/j.mib.2013.12.001

Impact of CRISPR immunity on the emergence and virulence of bacterial pathogens

Curr Opin Microbiol. 2014 Feb:17:82-90. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2013.12.001. Epub 2013 Dec 29.

Authors

Asma Hatoum-Aslan¹, Luciano A Marraffini²

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Bacteriology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
² Laboratory of Bacteriology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address: marraffini@rockefeller.edu.

Abstract

CRISPR-Cas systems protect prokaryotes from viruses and plasmids and function primarily as an adaptive immune system in these organisms. Recent discoveries, however, revealed unexpected roles for CRISPR loci as barriers to horizontal gene transfer and as modulators of gene expression. We review how both of these functions of CRISPR-Cas systems can affect the emergence and virulence of human bacterial pathogens.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Bacteria* / immunology
Bacteria* / pathogenicity
Bacterial Infections
CRISPR-Cas Systems* / immunology
CRISPR-Cas Systems* / physiology
Humans
Mice

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding