title: CRISPR-Cas: Adapting to change.
abstract: Bacteria and archaea are engaged in a constant arms race to defend against the ever-present threats of viruses and invasion by mobile genetic elements. The most flexible weapons in the prokaryotic defense arsenal are the CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune systems. These systems are capable of selective identification and neutralization of foreign DNA and/or RNA. CRISPR-Cas systems rely on stored genetic memories to facilitate target recognition. Thus, to keep pace with a changing pool of hostile invaders, the CRISPR memory banks must be regularly updated with new information through a process termed CRISPR adaptation. In this Review, we outline the recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing CRISPR adaptation. Specifically, the conserved protein machinery Cas1-Cas2 is the cornerstone of adaptive immunity in a range of diverse CRISPR-Cas systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Post Office Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Simon A
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4512-3093
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rebecca E
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3627-5367
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Post Office Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3939-1489
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Fagerlund
authors.affiliation: Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sebastian N
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7102-0218
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kieper
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Post Office Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. peter.fineran@otago.ac.nz stanbrouns@gmail.com.|Bio-Protection Research Centre, University of Otago, Post Office Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4639-6704
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Fineran
authors.affiliation: Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, Netherlands. peter.fineran@otago.ac.nz stanbrouns@gmail.com.|Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Stan J J
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9573-1724
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Brouns
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001105:Archaea / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D064130:CRISPR-Associated Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D064113:CRISPR-Cas Systems / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D064130:CRISPR-Associated Proteins; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA