2021/03/01 by Artem B. Isaev, Olga S. Musharova, Konstantin V. Severinov
paper · doi:10.1134/s0006297921030081
crossref issued 2021/03/01 · crossref published 2021/03/01 · crossref published-print 2021/03/01 · crossref published-online 2021/03/15 · crossref created 2021/03/15 · crossref deposited 2026/03/16 · crossref indexed 2026/07/27
Abstract Bacteriophages or phages are viruses that infect bacterial cells (for the scope of this review we will also consider viruses that infect Archaea). Constant threat of phage infection is a major force that shapes evolution of the microbial genomes. To withstand infection, bacteria had evolved numerous strategies to avoid recognition by phages or to directly interfere with phage propagation inside the cell. Classical molecular biology and genetic engineering have been deeply intertwined with the study of phages and host defenses. Nowadays, owing to the rise of phage therapy, broad application of CRISPR-Cas technologies, and development of bioinformatics approaches that facilitate discovery of new systems, phage biology experiences a revival. This review describes variety of strategies employed by microbes to counter phage infection, with a focus on novel systems discovered in recent years. First chapter covers defense associated with cell surface, role of small molecules, and innate immunity systems relying on DNA modification.