Synergy and regulation of antiphage systems: toward the existence of a bacterial immune system?

Abstract

Bacteria encode a vast repertoire of diverse antiphage defense systems. Recent studies revealed that different defense systems are often encoded within the same genome, raising the question of their possible interactions in a cell. Here, we review the known synergies and coregulations of antiphage systems. The emerging complexities suggest a potential existence of an additional level of organization of antiviral defense in prokaryotes. We argue that this organization could be compared with immune systems of animals and plants. We discuss this concept and explore what it could mean in bacteria.