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A chemical defence against phage infection

Author

Listed:
  • Sarah Kronheim

    (University of Toronto)

  • Martin Daniel-Ivad

    (University of Toronto)

  • Zhuang Duan

    (University of Toronto)

  • Sungwon Hwang

    (University of Toronto)

  • Andrew I. Wong

    (University of Toronto)

  • Ian Mantel

    (University of Toronto)

  • Justin R. Nodwell

    (University of Toronto)

  • Karen L. Maxwell

    (University of Toronto)

Abstract

The arms race between bacteria and the phages that infect them drives the continual evolution of diverse anti-phage defences. Previously described anti-phage systems have highly varied defence mechanisms1–11; however, all mechanisms rely on protein components to mediate defence. Here we report a chemical anti-phage defence system that is widespread in Streptomyces. We show that three naturally produced molecules that insert into DNA are able to block phage replication, whereas molecules that target DNA by other mechanisms do not. Because double-stranded DNA phages are the most numerous group in the biosphere and the production of secondary metabolites by bacteria is ubiquitous12, this mechanism of anti-phage defence probably has a major evolutionary role in shaping bacterial communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah Kronheim & Martin Daniel-Ivad & Zhuang Duan & Sungwon Hwang & Andrew I. Wong & Ian Mantel & Justin R. Nodwell & Karen L. Maxwell, 2018. "A chemical defence against phage infection," Nature, Nature, vol. 564(7735), pages 283-286, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:564:y:2018:i:7735:d:10.1038_s41586-018-0767-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0767-x
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Nathan P. Bullen & Cydney N. Johnson & Shelby E. Andersen & Garima Arya & Sonia R. Marotta & Yan-Jiun Lee & Peter R. Weigele & John C. Whitney & Breck A. Duerkop, 2024. "An enterococcal phage protein inhibits type IV restriction enzymes involved in antiphage defense," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Florian Tesson & Alexandre Hervé & Ernest Mordret & Marie Touchon & Camille d’Humières & Jean Cury & Aude Bernheim, 2022. "Systematic and quantitative view of the antiviral arsenal of prokaryotes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Clemente F. Arias & Francisco J. Acosta & Federica Bertocchini & Miguel A. Herrero & Cristina Fernández-Arias, 2022. "The coordination of anti-phage immunity mechanisms in bacterial cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Yuncong Geng & Thu Vu Phuc Nguyen & Ehsan Homaee & Ido Golding, 2024. "Using bacterial population dynamics to count phages and their lysogens," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.

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