Type VI secretion system-mediated bacterial antagonism in the classroom

The study of bacterial antagonism, and specifically type VI secretion system (T6SS)-mediated antagonism, has gained momentum over the last decade in research laboratories across the world. The T6SS is a molecular machine that mediates interbacterial antagonism, as well as interactions with the host in the case of pathogenic or commensal organisms. Here, we describe a set of protocols and materials that can be used as resources to develop practical courses to study the assembly and firing of this machinery. These resources help train students on basic molecular biology techniques and secretion and competition assays, as well as fluorescence microscopy. The full set of activities is appropriate for students at the level of second- to third-year students in the Bachelor of Biology and can be carried out in 4 days requiring minimal specialized equipment. This course allows the students to familiarize themselves with standard microbiology laboratory approaches and learn how to study the function of a complex molecular machinery.