Cas13 Helps Bacteria Play Dead when the Enemy Strikes.

Cas13 Helps Bacteria Play Dead when the Enemy Strikes.
Cell Host Microbe. 2019 Jul 10;26(1):1-2
Authors: Mendoza SD, Bondy-Denomy J
Abstract
How RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas13 functions as a phage defense system has been mysterious. Recently in Nature, Meeske et al. (2019) demonstrate that Cas13 provides potent immunity to dsDNA phages without cutting their genome. By sensing phage transcripts and destroying RNA nonspecifically to arrest the cell into dormancy, Cas13 provides herd immunity.
PMID: 31295418 [PubMed - in process]

Source: Cell Host and Microbe - July 9, 2019 Category: Microbiology Authors: Mendoza SD, Bondy-Denomy J Tags: Cell Host Microbe Source Type: research