Widespread immune systems protect bacteria against conjugative plasmids
Ludovic Poiré, Julie Baltenneck, Salomé Guillory, Baptiste Clement, Julien Cayron, Christian Lesterlin, François Rousset, Xavier Charpentier
This study identifies three novel immune systems in bacteria that protect against conjugative plasmids, revealing their role in limiting plasmid spread and highlighting the evolutionary arms race between bacteria and plasmids.
bioRxiv · Jul 6, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology