IncC conjugative plasmids and SXT/R391 elements repair double-strand breaks caused by CRISPR-Cas during conjugation.

ABSTRACT: Bacteria have evolved defence mechanisms against bacteriophages. Restriction-modification systems provide innate immunity by degrading invading DNAs that lack proper methylation. CRISPR-Cas systems provide adaptive immunity by sampling the genome of past invaders and cutting the DNA of closely related DNA molecules. These barriers also restrict horizontal gene transfer mediated by conjugative plasmids. IncC conjugative plasmids are important contributors to the global dissemination of multidrug resistance among pathogenic bacteria infecting animals and humans. Here, we show that IncC conjugative plasmids are highly resilient to host defence systems during entry into a new host by conjugation. Using a TnSeq strategy, we uncover a conserved operon containing five genes (vcrx089-vcrx093) that

SUBMITTER: Roy D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7498323 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature