Laboratory of Bacteriology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Laboratory of Bacteriology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Curr Opin Microbiol. 2014 Feb;17:82-90. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2013.12.001. Epub 2013 Dec 29.
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.
CRISPR-Cas 系统保护原核生物免受病毒和质粒的侵害,并在这些生物体中主要作为适应性免疫系统发挥作用。然而,最近的发现揭示了 CRISPR 基因座作为水平基因转移的屏障和基因表达调节剂的意外作用。我们回顾了 CRISPR-Cas 系统的这两种功能如何影响人类细菌病原体的出现和毒力。