“For Microbes Fighting Viruses, A Fast Response Means a Better Defense.”
“For microbes fighting viruses, a fast response means a better defense”
29 March 2017
PHYS ORG
https://phys.org/news/2017-03-microbes-viruses-fast-response-defense.html
Summary:
Researchers at The Rockefeller University are studying how microbes are using CRISPR to fend off incoming viral threats. CRISPR is important in genome editing and in bacterial immune system. CRISPR operates by obtaining sections of viral DNA that it then catalogs for future recognition. Before this study was conducted, it was unknown as to when the CRISPR started acting on the invading viral DNA. As this research has revealed, CRISPR starts to act upon viral DNA as it is being injected into the bacterium. The CRISPR takes snippets of the ends of the viral DNA first introduced into the cell. The researchers also tried to modify the spacers of the CRISPR to pick up portions of the end of the viral DNA, and the bacterium struggled to proliferate, indicating that they do in fact grab snippets at the period of initial entry. Grabbing viral DNA at the initial period of entry is essential in recognizing the intrusion early.
Connections:
We have studied virulence in class and the cycles that viruses utilize to inject and reproduce within their hosts. Two such cycles are the lytic cycle and the lysogenic cycle. Bacteriophages can inject DNA into a host cell. This article also represents “The Red Queen Hypothesis,” in which the bacteria are trying to stay ahead of the virus so they do not meet an early demise.
Critical Analysis:
I have heard of CRISPR being used as a gene editing tool, but I didn’t realize its importance to bacterial immune systems. I also didn’t realize that in order to fend off viruses, the CRISPR would take snippets of the inbound viral DNA and catalog it for later reference. No underestimating the power of microbes!
Question:
Why do some bacteria lack CRISPR genes or have very few?