Scientists find 10 new defense systems used by bacteria

In lab tests, the gene families appear to fight virus attacks

phages

VIRAL ATTACK  Viruses called phages (shown landing on the surface of a cell in this transmission electron micrograph) can infect and kill bacteria. Scientists have just found a slew of new defense mechanisms that help bacteria resist such assaults.

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Since long before it gained fame as a precise gene-editing tool, CRISPR has had another job defending bacteria against viral invaders.