Characterization of the DRT2 phage defense system from Klebsiella pneumoniae

To understand the mechanism of the defense-associated reverse transcriptase system DRT2 found in Klebsiella pneumoniae, we heterologously expressed it in E. coli and performed various forms of DNA sequencing with and without phage infection to look for the expressed cDNA. We also purified the DRT2 RNP and performed various biochemical assays, followed by DNA/RNA sequencing, to understand its composition in the resting state and during cDNA synthesis.