Type I-F CRISPR-Cas resistance against virulent phage infection triggers abortive infection and provides population-level immunity

Abstract

Type I CRISPR-Cas systems are the most abundant and widespread adaptive immune systems of bacteria and can greatly enhance bacterial survival in the face of temperate phage infection. However, it is less clear how these systems protect against virulent phages. Here we experimentally show that type I CRISPR immunity of Pectobacterium atrosepticum leads to rapid suppression of two unrelated virulent phages, {Phi}TE and {Phi}M1. However, unlike the case where bacteria are infected with temperate phages, this is the result of an abortive infection-like phenotype, where infected cells do not survive the infection but instead become metabolically inactive and lose their membrane integrity. Our findings challenge the view of CRISPR-Cas as a system that protects the individual cell and supports growing evidence of an Abi-like function for some types of CRISPR-Cas systems.