identifier: traitmech:000355 label: Gao-Mza system definition: A phage defense system in which an organism possesses a Gao_Mza locus represented by DefenseFinder as a five-profile model requiring Gao_Mza__MzaA, Gao_Mza__MzaB, Gao_Mza__MzaC, Gao_Mza__MzaD, and Gao_Mza__MzaE. definition_source: DOI:10.1126/science.aba0372 trait_category: GENOMICS term_kind: CLASS mapping_status: PROPOSED parent_traits: - traitmech:000209 synonyms: - synonym_text: Gao_Mza synonym_type: RELATED_SYNONYM source: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/List_system_article.md - synonym_text: Gao_Mza__MzaA synonym_type: RELATED_SYNONYM source: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/Liste_hmm_system.md - synonym_text: Gao_Mza__MzaB synonym_type: RELATED_SYNONYM source: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/Liste_hmm_system.md - synonym_text: Gao_Mza__MzaC synonym_type: RELATED_SYNONYM source: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/Liste_hmm_system.md - synonym_text: Gao_Mza__MzaD synonym_type: RELATED_SYNONYM source: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/Liste_hmm_system.md - synonym_text: Gao_Mza__MzaE synonym_type: RELATED_SYNONYM source: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/Liste_hmm_system.md evidence: - reference: PMID:32855333 snippet: By systematic defense gene prediction and heterologous reconstitution, here we discover 29 widespread antiviral gene cassettes, collectively present in 32% of all sequenced bacterial and archaeal genomes, that mediate protection against specific bacteriophages. notes: Gao et al. support a systematic defense-gene prediction and heterologous reconstitution campaign that discovered widespread antiviral gene cassettes. - reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/List_system_article.md snippet: Gao_Mza | 10\.1126/science\.aba0372 | Diverse enzymatic activities mediate antiviral immunity in prokaryotes notes: The DefenseFinder article registry maps the named Gao_Mza system to the Gao et al. prokaryotic antiviral-immunity paper. - reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/DefenseFinder_rules.tsv snippet: "Gao_Mza\tGao_Mza\t5\t5\tGao_Mza__MzaA, Gao_Mza__MzaB, Gao_Mza__MzaC, Gao_Mza__MzaD,\ \ Gao_Mza__MzaE" notes: The DefenseFinder rules table models Gao_Mza as a five-profile system requiring the Gao_Mza__MzaA through Gao_Mza__MzaE profiles. - reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/Liste_hmm_system.md snippet: '| Gao_Mza__MzaA | Gao_Mza__MzaA | Gao_Mza | Custom | 100 |' notes: The DefenseFinder HMM inventory records Gao_Mza__MzaA under Gao_Mza. - reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/Liste_hmm_system.md snippet: '| Gao_Mza__MzaB | Gao_Mza__MzaB | Gao_Mza | Custom | 400 |' notes: The DefenseFinder HMM inventory records Gao_Mza__MzaB under Gao_Mza. - reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/Liste_hmm_system.md snippet: '| Gao_Mza__MzaC | Gao_Mza__MzaC | Gao_Mza | Custom | 650 |' notes: The DefenseFinder HMM inventory records Gao_Mza__MzaC under Gao_Mza. - reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/Liste_hmm_system.md snippet: '| Gao_Mza__MzaD | Gao_Mza__MzaD | Gao_Mza | Custom | 100 |' notes: The DefenseFinder HMM inventory records Gao_Mza__MzaD under Gao_Mza. - reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/Liste_hmm_system.md snippet: '| Gao_Mza__MzaE | Gao_Mza__MzaE | Gao_Mza | Custom | 20 |' notes: The DefenseFinder HMM inventory records Gao_Mza__MzaE under Gao_Mza. causal_graphs: - graph_id: gao_mza_locus_restricts_phage title: Gao-Mza loci confer bacterial phage defense description: Conservative system-level sketch linking possession of a Gao_Mza locus to Gao et al. antiviral cassette defense without asserting the unresolved MzaA, MzaB, MzaC, MzaD, or MzaE component activities. scope_status: NONMECHANISTIC scope_notes: The graph captures Gao-Mza as a named DefenseFinder five-profile Gao-family system while leaving natural hosts, MzaA/MzaB/MzaC/MzaD/MzaE protein functions, phage triggers, and direct effector activity unresolved. nodes: - node_id: gao_mza_locus label: Gao_Mza locus node_type: GENETIC_ELEMENT description: A DefenseFinder Gao_Mza phage-defense locus represented by custom MzaA through MzaE profiles. - node_id: gao_2020_antiviral_cassette_defense label: Gao 2020 antiviral cassette defense node_type: BIOLOGICAL_PROCESS description: Bacteriophage protection by one of the antiviral gene cassettes described in the Gao et al. systematic defense-gene discovery campaign. - node_id: gao_mza_system_trait label: Gao-Mza system node_type: TRAIT grounding: traitmech:000355 description: Possession of a genome-encoded Gao-Mza phage-defense system. - node_id: phage_defense_system label: phage defense system node_type: TRAIT grounding: traitmech:000209 description: Possession of one or more genome-encoded immune systems that inhibit bacteriophage infection. edges: - subject: gao_mza_locus predicate: contributes to predicate_id: RO:0002326 object: gao_2020_antiviral_cassette_defense description: DefenseFinder maps Gao_Mza to the Gao et al. systematic antiphage-system discovery paper and models it as a five-profile system requiring MzaA through MzaE. evidence: - reference: PMID:32855333 snippet: By systematic defense gene prediction and heterologous reconstitution, here we discover 29 widespread antiviral gene cassettes, collectively present in 32% of all sequenced bacterial and archaeal genomes, that mediate protection against specific bacteriophages. notes: Gao et al. support bacteriophage protection by widespread antiviral gene cassettes. - reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/List_system_article.md snippet: Gao_Mza | 10\.1126/science\.aba0372 | Diverse enzymatic activities mediate antiviral immunity in prokaryotes notes: The DefenseFinder article registry maps the named Gao_Mza system to the Gao et al. prokaryotic antiviral-immunity paper. - reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/DefenseFinder_rules.tsv snippet: "Gao_Mza\tGao_Mza\t5\t5\tGao_Mza__MzaA, Gao_Mza__MzaB, Gao_Mza__MzaC,\ \ Gao_Mza__MzaD, Gao_Mza__MzaE" notes: The DefenseFinder rules table models Gao_Mza as a five-profile system requiring the Gao_Mza__MzaA through Gao_Mza__MzaE profiles. - reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/Liste_hmm_system.md snippet: '| Gao_Mza__MzaA | Gao_Mza__MzaA | Gao_Mza | Custom | 100 |' notes: The DefenseFinder HMM inventory records Gao_Mza__MzaA under Gao_Mza. - reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/Liste_hmm_system.md snippet: '| Gao_Mza__MzaB | Gao_Mza__MzaB | Gao_Mza | Custom | 400 |' notes: The DefenseFinder HMM inventory records Gao_Mza__MzaB under Gao_Mza. - reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/Liste_hmm_system.md snippet: '| Gao_Mza__MzaC | Gao_Mza__MzaC | Gao_Mza | Custom | 650 |' notes: The DefenseFinder HMM inventory records Gao_Mza__MzaC under Gao_Mza. - reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/Liste_hmm_system.md snippet: '| Gao_Mza__MzaD | Gao_Mza__MzaD | Gao_Mza | Custom | 100 |' notes: The DefenseFinder HMM inventory records Gao_Mza__MzaD under Gao_Mza. - reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/Liste_hmm_system.md snippet: '| Gao_Mza__MzaE | Gao_Mza__MzaE | Gao_Mza | Custom | 20 |' notes: The DefenseFinder HMM inventory records Gao_Mza__MzaE under Gao_Mza. - subject: gao_2020_antiviral_cassette_defense predicate: confers predicate_id: METPO:2007700 object: gao_mza_system_trait description: Gao_Mza-associated antiviral cassette defense realizes the Gao-Mza system trait. evidence: - reference: PMID:32855333 snippet: By systematic defense gene prediction and heterologous reconstitution, here we discover 29 widespread antiviral gene cassettes, collectively present in 32% of all sequenced bacterial and archaeal genomes, that mediate protection against specific bacteriophages. notes: Gao et al. support bacteriophage protection by widespread antiviral gene cassettes. - subject: gao_mza_system_trait predicate: is a predicate_id: rdfs:subClassOf object: phage_defense_system description: Gao-Mza system possession is a phage-defense-system trait. evidence: - reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/List_system_article.md snippet: Gao_Mza | 10\.1126/science\.aba0372 | Diverse enzymatic activities mediate antiviral immunity in prokaryotes notes: The DefenseFinder article registry maps the named Gao_Mza system to the Gao et al. prokaryotic antiviral-immunity paper. - reference: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdmparis/defense-finder-models/afb0e5a8b466be53586b13266f5d38d98c3ac268/DefenseFinder_rules.tsv snippet: "Gao_Mza\tGao_Mza\t5\t5\tGao_Mza__MzaA, Gao_Mza__MzaB, Gao_Mza__MzaC,\ \ Gao_Mza__MzaD, Gao_Mza__MzaE" notes: The DefenseFinder rules table models Gao_Mza as a five-profile system requiring the Gao_Mza__MzaA through Gao_Mza__MzaE profiles. discussions: - discussion_id: gao-mza-mechanism-gap prompt: Resolve Gao_Mza natural hosts, MzaA/MzaB/MzaC/MzaD/MzaE component functions, phage triggers, and effector activity before minting narrower Gao_Mza mechanism children. kind: KNOWLEDGE_GAP status: OPEN rationale: Gao et al. support widespread antiviral gene cassettes that mediate protection against specific bacteriophages, and DefenseFinder models Gao_Mza as a five-profile system. The exact natural host breadth, Mza component identities, phage trigger, and profile-to-activity mapping remain unresolved. attaches_to: - causal_graphs#gao_mza_locus_restricts_phage posed_by: codex posed_date: '2026-09-22' curation_history: - timestamp: '2026-09-22T04:08:35Z' curator: codex action: MINTED_TRAITMECH_ID changes: Minted Gao-Mza system as a DOI-backed GENOMICS TraitRecord under phage defense system after an ignored-and-hidden duplicate review found no exact live TraitMech, METPO, history, or prior proposal record; the replacement placeholder is reserved in proposals/metpo_traitmech_v232. llm_assisted: true