TitleRestriction modification systems as engines of diversity.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsSneppen K, Semsey S, Seshasayee ASN, Krishna S
JournalFront Microbiol
Volume6
Pagination528
Date Published2015
ISSN1664-302X
Abstract

Restriction modification (RM) systems provide protection against a broad spectrum of phages. However, the likelihood of a phage permanently bypassing this can be as high as 0.1 per infection (Korona et al., 1993) which makes for a relatively weak defense. Here we argue that, apart from providing such transient defenses, RM systems can facilitate long-term coexistence of many bacterial strains. We show that this diversity can be as large as the burst size of the phage but no larger-a curious correspondence between a number at the level of species and another number at the level of individuals. Such a highly diverse and stably coexisting ecosystem is robust to substantial variation in both bacterial growth rates and strength of their RM systems, which might be one reason why quite weak RM systems exist in the wild.

DOI10.3389/fmicb.2015.00528
Alternate JournalFront Microbiol
PubMed ID26082758
PubMed Central IDPMC4451750