Phage anti-CBASS and anti-Pycsar nucleases subvert bacterial immunity.

ABSTRACT: The cyclic oligonucleotide-based antiphage signalling system (CBASS) and the pyrimidine cyclase system for antiphage resistance (Pycsar) are antiphage defence systems in diverse bacteria that use cyclic nucleotide signals to induce cell death and prevent viral propagation^1,2. Phages use several strategies to defeat host CRISPR and restriction-modification systems^3-10, but no mechanisms are known to evade CBASS and Pycsar immunity. Here we show that phages encode anti-CBASS (Acb) and anti-Pycsar (Apyc) proteins that counteract defence by specifically degrading cyclic nucleotide signals that activate host immunity. Using a biochemical screen of 57 phages in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, we discover Acb1 from phage T4 and Apyc1 from phage SBSphiJ as founding me

SUBMITTER: Hobbs SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9117128 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature