Regulation of CRISPR-Based Immune Responses

Arslan, Zihni; Westra, Edze R.; Wagner, Rolf; Pul, Ümit

doi:10.1007/978-3-662-45794-8_4

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 81 publications

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“…However, although CRISPR-Cas systems confer tangible benefits, there are associated fitness costs (Vale et al., 2015, Westra et al., 2015). Hence, multiple systems are transcriptionally regulated (Arslan et al., 2013), which might enable physiological responsiveness to a changing environment and, thereby, a net cost-benefit balance. Since bacterial defensive requirements are predicted to change relative to population density (Abedon, 2012), we hypothesized that CRISPR-Cas immunity could be integrated into the host QS circuit, allowing increased defense at higher cell densities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quorum Sensing Controls Adaptive Immunity through the Regulation of Multiple CRISPR-Cas Systems

et al. 2016

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SummaryBacteria commonly exist in high cell density populations, making them prone to viral predation and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) through transformation and conjugation. To combat these invaders, bacteria possess an arsenal of defenses, such as CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity. Many bacterial populations coordinate their behavior as cell density increases, using quorum sensing (QS) signaling. In this study, we demonstrate that QS regulation results in increased expression of the type I-E, I-F, and III-A CRISPR-Cas systems in Serratia cells in high-density populations. Strains unable to communicate via QS were less effective at defending against invaders targeted by any of the three CRISPR-Cas systems. Additionally, the acquisition of immunity by the type I-E and I-F systems was impaired in the absence of QS signaling. We propose that bacteria can use chemical communication to modulate the balance between community-level defense requirements in high cell density populations and host fitness costs of basal CRISPR-Cas activity.

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