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Coincubation Assay for Quantifying Competitive Interactions between Vibrio fischeri Isolates
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Diverse type VI secretion phospholipases are functionally plastic antibacterial effectors.

Alistair B Russell1, Michele LeRoux, Krisztina Hathazi

  • 1Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.

Nature
|April 5, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Researchers discovered a new family of bacterial phospholipase enzymes, named type VI lipase effectors, that target bacterial membranes. These enzymes are crucial for antagonistic interactions between bacteria, impacting pathogenesis and evolution.

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Published on: November 23, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cellular membranes are vital for compartmentalization and are targets in inter-organismal interactions.
  • Bacterial phospholipases, including those with phospholipase A1 and A2 activity, are known toxins and venoms.
  • The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is an apparatus for translocating effector proteins between cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discover and characterize a novel superfamily of bacterial phospholipase enzymes.
  • To determine the role of these enzymes in bacterial interactions and their mechanism of action.
  • To investigate the involvement of PldA and the H2-T6SS in bacterial antagonism.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinformatic analysis to identify phospholipase enzyme superfamilies.
  • Enzyme activity assays to define phospholipase A1 and A2 activities.
  • Genetic and biochemical analyses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PldA and the H2-T6SS.

Main Results:

  • Discovery of a diverse superfamily of bacterial phospholipase enzymes, termed type VI lipase effectors.
  • Identification of phospholipase A1 and A2 activities within this superfamily, previously associated with toxins.
  • Demonstration that these effectors function via the T6SS to mediate bacterial antagonism by degrading phosphatidylethanolamine.

Conclusions:

  • Type VI lipase effectors are a key component of bacterial antagonistic strategies mediated by the T6SS.
  • PldA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a member of this superfamily and plays a role in bacterial interactions.
  • Virulence-associated phospholipases can act as specific antibacterial effectors, highlighting the role of interbacterial competition in the evolution of pathogenesis.