Q. What is 'Neo', recently seen in news?
Answer:
a novel protein
Notes: Recent research identified a novel protein, "Neo," crucial in bacterial defense against bacteriophages. Discovered by Stephen Tang and Samuel Sternberg in Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neo is part of the DRT-2 system. It involves rolling-circle reverse transcription of non-coding RNA, producing double-stranded cDNA upon phage infection. This cDNA generates mRNAs encoding the Neo protein, which induces bacterial cell dormancy, protecting the population from phage spread.