Mobile integrons encode phage defense systems

Integrons are bacterial genetic elements that capture, stockpile, and modulate the expression of genes encoded in integron cassettes. Mobile integrons (MIs) are borne on plasmids, acting as a vehicle for hundreds of antimicrobial resistance genes among key pathogens. These elements also carry gene cassettes of unknown function (<i>gcu</i>s) whose role and adaptive value remain unexplored. In this work, we show that <i>gcu</i>s encode phage resistance systems, many of which are newly discovered. Bacteriophage resistance integron cassettes (BRiCs) can be combined and mixed with resistance cassettes to produce multiphage or drug and phage resistance. The fitness costs of BRiCs are variable and dependent on the genetic context and can be modulated by changing the order of cassettes in the array. Hence, MIs act as highly mobile, low-cost defense islands.

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Publication Details

Journal
Science
Published
2025-05-08
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ads0915
Citations
20
Primary Topic
Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
34.33
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Mobile integrons encode phage defense systems

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article en
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Abstract

Integrons are bacterial genetic elements that capture, stockpile, and modulate the expression of genes encoded in integron cassettes. Mobile integrons (MIs) are borne on plasmids, acting as a vehicle for hundreds of antimicrobial resistance genes among key pathogens. These elements also carry gene cassettes of unknown function (<i>gcu</i>s) whose role and adaptive value remain unexplored. In this work, we show that <i>gcu</i>s encode phage resistance systems, many of which are newly discovered. Bacteriophage resistance integron cassettes (BRiCs) can be combined and mixed with resistance cassettes to produce multiphage or drug and phage resistance. The fitness costs of BRiCs are variable and dependent on the genetic context and can be modulated by changing the order of cassettes in the array. Hence, MIs act as highly mobile, low-cost defense islands.

ScienceVol. 388(6747)
Universidad Complutense de Madrid (ES), Université Libre de Bruxelles (BE), Inserm (FR), Universitat de València (ES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (ES), Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz (ES), Highlight Therapeutics (Spain) (ES), Walloon Excellence in Lifesciences and Biotechnology (BE), Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (ES), Université de Limoges (FR)
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 0%
Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
34.33
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