Nature Communications (Nov 2020)
Discovery of multiple anti-CRISPRs highlights anti-defense gene clustering in mobile genetic elements
Abstract
Mobile genetic elements have evolved anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins to bypass the immunity provided by prokaryotic CRISPR–Cas systems. Here, the authors identify 11 type I Acrs encoded on mobile genetic elements, and show that acr loci neighborhoods can be used to discover inhibitors of other bacterial defense systems.