我国科研人员发现 细菌免疫新机制

Core Insights - The research team led by Professor Xiao Yibei from China Pharmaceutical University has revealed a new immune mechanism by which bacteria resist phage infections, providing insights for the development of related drugs [1][2] Group 1: Immune Mechanism Discovery - Bacteria can suppress phage infection and propagation, challenging the previous belief that only higher organisms possess immune systems [1] - The study is based on the CRISPR-Cas system, which is a gene-editing technology that can cut genetic material at specific locations [1][2] Group 2: ATP Metabolism and Phage Resistance - The new mechanism involves depleting ATP, the energy factor within bacteria, which slows down the phage's ability to replicate [2] - Bacteria convert ATP into toxic ITP, which hinders phage replication due to insufficient energy [2] - A hydrolytic enzyme within bacteria further degrades ITP, allowing bacteria to detoxify and eventually recover after clearing phages during a 'dormant' state [2] Group 3: Implications for Future Research - The discovery highlights the intrinsic link between bacterial immunity and metabolic processes, enhancing the scientific community's understanding of gene-editing technologies [2] - This research provides important insights for the future development of anti-infection drugs [2]