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Typically, a TA locus consists of a pair of genes: one encodes a stable toxin that inhibits essential cellular functions, and another encodes a labile antitoxin that neutralizes the activity of its cognate toxin. The known TA loci can be classified into 8 types based on the nature and mode of action of the antitoxins, namely types I to VIII described in the review by Dukas Jurėnas et al. (2022). The majority of described toxins are proteins (types I to VII), while the toxins are RNAs for type VIII TA pairs. Antitoxins are proteins for types II and IV to VII TA pairs but are RNAs in types I, III and VIII TA pairs.