A5086673009- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Antibiotic Use and Resistance
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- Entomological Studies and Ecology
- Innovation and Socioeconomic Development
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Plant Surface Properties and Treatments
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
University of Exeter
2016-2025
Sustainability Institute
2018-2024
West Cornwall Hospital
2023
Wageningen University & Research
2012-2017
Google (United States)
2015
State Key Laboratory of Virology
2011-2014
University of Bologna
2013
Some phages encode anti-CRISPR (acr) genes, which antagonize bacterial CRISPR-Cas immune systems by binding components of its machinery, but it is less clear how deployment these acr genes impacts phage replication and epidemiology. Here, we demonstrate that bacteria with resistance are still partially to Acr-encoding phage. As a consequence, Acr-phages often need cooperate in order overcome CRISPR resistance, first blocking the host system allow second Acr-phage successfully replicate. This...
Despite ongoing antibiotic development, evolution of resistance may render candidate antibiotics ineffective. Here we studied in vitro emergence to 13 introduced after 2017 or currently compared with in-use antibiotics. Laboratory showed that clinically relevant arises within 60 days exposure Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, priority Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens. Resistance mutations are already present natural populations...
The emergence and re-emergence of pathogens remains a major public health concern. Unfortunately, when where will (re-)emerge is notoriously difficult to predict, as the erratic nature those events reinforced by stochastic pathogen evolution during early phase an epidemic. For instance, mutations allowing escape host resistance may boost spread promote emergence. Yet, ecological factors that govern such evolutionary remain elusive because lack realism current theoretical frameworks...
It is becoming increasingly clear that antibiotics can both positively and negatively impact the infectivity of bacteriophages (phage), but underlying mechanisms often remain unclear. Here we demonstrate target protein translation machinery fundamentally alter outcome bacteria-phage interactions by interfering with production phage-encoded counter-defense proteins. Specifically, using Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 phage DMS3vir as a model, show bacteria Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short...
The prokaryotic adaptive immune system, CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats; CRISPR-associated), requires the acquisition of spacer sequences that target invading mobile genetic elements such as phages. Previous work has identified ecological variables drive evolution CRISPR-based immunity model organism Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 against its phage DMS3vir, resulting in rapid extinction. However, it is unclear if and how stable acquired within bacterial...
CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) systems are prokaryotic adaptive immune that provide protection against infection by parasitic mobile genetic elements, such as viruses and plasmids. CRISPR-Cas found in approximately half of all sequenced bacterial genomes nearly archaeal genomes. In this review, we summarize our current understanding the evolutionary ecology systems, highlight their value model to answer fundamental questions...
Many parasites manipulate host behavior to increase the probability of transmission. To date, direct evidence for parasitic genes underlying such behavioral manipulations is scarce. Here we show that baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) induces hyperactive in Spodoptera exigua larvae at three days after infection. Furthermore, identify viral protein tyrosine phosphatase (ptp) gene as a key player induction hyperactivity larvae, and mutating catalytic site...
Specificity in the interactions between hosts and their parasites can lead to local adaptation. However, degree of adaptation is predicted depend upon diversity resistance alleles within host population; increasing should decrease mean parasite infectivity hence reduce In this study, we empirically test prediction using highly specific bacteria with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated (CRISPR/Cas) immunity bacteriophage. Bacteria acquire phage by...
Bacteriophages encoding anti-CRISPR proteins (Acrs) must cooperate to overcome phage resistance mediated by the bacterial immune system CRISPR-Cas, where first blocks CRISPR-Cas immunity in order allow a second Acr successfully replicate. However, nature, bacteria are frequently not pre-immunized, and populations often clonal, exhibiting variations presence strength. We explored how interactions between phages initially sensitive evolve, both absence of competing lacking Acrs. find that...
The acquisition of antibiotic resistance (ABR) genes via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a key driver the rise in multidrug amongst bacterial pathogens. Bacterial defence systems per definition restrict influx foreign genetic material, and may therefore limit ABR. CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune are one most prevalent defences bacteria, found roughly half genomes, but it has remained unclear if how much they contribute to restricting spread We analysed approximately 40 000 whole genomes...
Plasmids are key disseminators of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors, it is therefore critical to predict reduce plasmid spread within microbial communities. The cost carriage a metric that can be used plasmids' ecological fate, unclear whether costs affected by growth partners in community. We carried out competition experiments tracked maintenance using model system consisting synthetic stable five-species community broad host-range plasmid, engineered carry different...
CRISPR-Cas is an adaptive prokaryotic immune system that prevents phage infection. By incorporating phage-derived ‘spacer’ sequences into CRISPR loci on the host genome, future infections from same genotype can be recognized and genome cleaved. However, escape degradation by mutating sequence targeted spacer, allowing them to re-infect previously CRISPR-immune hosts, theoretically leading coevolution. Previous studies have shown persist over long periods in populations of Streptococcus...
Many parasites alter host behaviour to enhance their chance of transmission. Recently, the ecdysteroid UDP-glucosyl transferase (egt) gene from baculovirus Lymantria dispar multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV) was identified induce tree-top disease in L. larvae. Infected gypsy moth larvae died at elevated positions (hence term disease), which is thought promote dissemination virus lower foliage. It is, however, unknown whether egt has a conserved role among baculoviruses inducing disease....
Many parasites manipulate host behaviour to enhance parasite transmission and survival. A fascinating example is baculoviruses, which often induce death in caterpillar hosts at elevated positions ('tree-top' disease). To date, little known about the underlying processes leading this adaptive manipulation. Here, we show that baculovirus Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV) triggers a positive phototactic response S. larvae prior causes caterpillars die positions. This...
Migration of hosts and parasites can have a profound impact on host-parasite ecological evolutionary interactions. Using the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa UCBPP-PA14 its phage DMS3vir, we here show that immigration naive into coevolving populations influence mechanistic basis underlying host defence evolution. Specifically, found at high levels bacterial immigration, bacteria switched from clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR-Cas) to surface...
CRISPR-Cas immune systems are present in around half of bacterial genomes. Given the specificity and adaptability this mechanism, it is perhaps surprising that they not more widespread. Recent insights into requirement for specific host factors function some subtypes, as well negative epistasis between other genes, have shed light on potential reasons partial distribution strategy bacteria. In study, we examined how mutations mismatch repair system, which frequently observed natural clinical...