ReviewFrontiers in microbiology2019
CRISPR-Cas Systems and the Paradox of Self-Targeting Spacers.
Review in Frontiers in microbiology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 60 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
60 citing papers in PubMed, 101 citations in OpenAlex.
- Genome Evolution in Plant Pathogenic Bacteria.Genome biology and evolution · 2026Review
- Genomic landscape of biosynthetic gene clusters in Iranian extremophiles reveals prolific metabolite potential, prophage associations, and integrated defensive-metabolic islands.BMC microbiology · 2026Article
- Expanding the landscape of BREX diversity: uncovering multi-layered functional frameworks and identification of novel BREX-related defense systems.Nucleic acids research · 2026Article
- Immunity: defense against infections essential for all living organisms.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- Multilayer regulation of CRISPR systems: integrating anti-CRISPR proteins, CRISPRi/a, and quorum sensing networks.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026Review
- Genomic Assessment, Metabolic Profile Mapping, and Anti-Helicobacter pylori Activity of Lactococcus lactis SK2-659 from Thai Fermented Green Mustard (Pak-kad-dong).Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2026Article
- Characterization of the CRISPR1-Cas array and its subtyping potential in Enterococcus faecalis from Malaysia.Access microbiology · 2026Article
- Single-colony resolution of CRISPR-Cas adaptation in E. coli reveals altered spacer-source bias during solid-phase growth.Nucleic acids research · 2025Article
- Article
- SMC-like Wadjet system prevents plasmid transfer into Clostridium cellulovorans.Applied microbiology and biotechnology · 2025Article
- The first complete genome of Fructilactobacillus vespulae: strain Mu01, isolated from nectar of Musa paradisiaca L.BMC genomic data · 2025Article
- CASCADE-Cas3 enables highly efficient genome engineering in Streptomyces species.Nucleic acids research · 2025Article
- Bacteria exploit viral dormancy to establish CRISPR-Cas immunity.Cell host & microbe · 2025Article
- Unusual Genomic and Biochemical Features ofInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2024Article
- Interrelation Between Pathoadaptability Factors and Crispr-Element Patterns in the Genomes ofPathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Evolution of the CRISPR-Cas9 defence system inMicrobial genomics · 2024Article
- Impact ofEngineering microbiology · 2024Article
- Probiogenomic analysis ofHeliyon · 2024Article
- Genomic and physiological characterization of Kitasatospora sp. nov., an actinobacterium with potential for biotechnological application isolated from Cerrado soil.Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology] · 2024Article
- Bacterial nucleoid is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.Journal of bacteriology · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas immune systems in bacteria and archaea record prior infections as spacers within each system's CRISPR arrays. Spacers are normally derived from invasive genetic material and direct the immune system to complementary targets as part of future infections. However, not all spacers appear to be derived from foreign genetic material and instead can originate from the host genome. Their presence poses a paradox, as self-targeting spacers would be expected to induce an autoimmune response and cell death. In this review, we discuss the known frequency of self-targeting spacers in natural CRISPR-Cas systems, how these spacers can be incorporated into CRISPR arrays, and how the host can evade lethal attack. We also discuss how self-targeting spacers can become the basis for alternative functions performed by CRISPR-Cas systems that extend beyond adaptive immunity. Overall, the acquisition of genome-targeting spacers poses a substantial risk but can aid in the host's evolution and potentially lead to or support new functionalities.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.