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VIRAL INFECTION

Phages build anti-defence barriers

Two recent studies reveal a virus anti-defence strategy whereby large, ‘jumbo’ phages protect themselves from both restriction endonucleases and DNA-targeting CRISPR–Cas systems, but not from RNA-targeting ones, by encapsulating the phage genome inside the cell in a ‘nucleus’-like shell that is impenetrable for CRISPR effectors.

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Fig. 1: ‘Nucleus’-like organelles in host defence and virus anti-defence.

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Correspondence to Eugene V. Koonin or Mart Krupovic.

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Koonin, E.V., Krupovic, M. Phages build anti-defence barriers. Nat Microbiol 5, 8–9 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-019-0635-y

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