Tradeoffs and constraints on the evolution of tailocins

Phage tail-like bacteriocins (tailocins) are protein complexes produced by bacteria with the potential to kill their neighbors. Widespread throughout Gram-negative bacteria, tailocins exhibit extreme specificity in their targets, largely killing closely related strains. Despite their presence in diverse bacteria, the impact of these competitive weapons on the surrounding microbiota is largely unknown. Recent studies revealed the rapid evolution and genetic diversity of tailocins in microbial communities and suggest that there are constraints on the evolution of specificity and resistance. Given the precision of their targeted killing and the ease of engineering new specificities, understanding the evolution and ecological impact of tailocins may enable the design of promising candidates for novel targeted antibiotics.