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T6SS: killing two bugs with one stone.

Dukas Jurėnas1, Eric Cascales1

  • 1Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires (LISM), Institut de Microbiologie, Bioénergies et Biotechnologie (IM2B), Aix-Marseille Université - CNRS, UMR 7255, Marseille, France.

Trends in Microbiology
|November 10, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacteria use the type VI secretion system (T6SS) to attack rivals. A new study shows T6SS can deliver toxins targeting peptidoglycan into Gram-positive bacteria, expanding its known function.

Keywords:
Gram-negativeGram-positived-lysinepeptidoglycantoxintype VI secretion

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial cell-cell interactions
  • Molecular biology

Background:

  • The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a primary mechanism for interbacterial antagonism.
  • T6SS effectors are typically delivered into target bacterial cells to inhibit or kill them.
  • Current understanding primarily focuses on T6SS targeting of Gram-negative bacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the target range and functional capabilities of the T6SS beyond Gram-negative bacteria.
  • To determine if the T6SS can deliver effectors capable of damaging Gram-positive bacterial cell envelopes.
  • To characterize a novel bifunctional toxin delivered by the T6SS.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized genetic manipulation of T6SS components in bacterial strains.
  • Employed reporter assays to monitor effector delivery and activity.
  • Performed biochemical analyses to characterize toxin function and target interaction.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated successful delivery of T6SS effectors into Gram-positive bacteria.
  • Identified a bifunctional toxin that targets peptidoglycan synthesis.
  • Showcased the potentiation of toxin activity by the T6SS delivery mechanism.

Conclusions:

  • The T6SS is capable of targeting and delivering effectors into Gram-positive bacteria.
  • This expands the known functional repertoire of the T6SS in bacterial warfare.
  • The findings challenge the prevailing model of T6SS specificity and broaden its implications in microbial ecology.