Identification of a new bacterial defense system against phages

Bacteria are under constant attack from viruses known as bacteriophages or phages, recognized as the most abundant organisms on the planet. In response, bacteria have developed an entire arsenal of defense mechanisms against phages, including CRISPR systems, the recent discovery of which is currently giving rise to a surge of new applications, especially in the field of gene editing (gene therapy). Scientists from the Institut Pasteur and the CNRS have recently identified a new system used by staphylococci to defend themselves against phages. Their findings will be published in Cell Host and Microbes on September 22, 2016.

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