rhamnolipid micelles deliver toxic metabolites and antibiotics into .

Efficient delivery of toxic compounds to bacterial competitors is essential during interspecies microbial warfare. Rhamnolipids (RLPs) are glycolipids produced by and species involved in solubilization and uptake of environmental aliphatic hydrocarbons and perform as biosurfactants for swarming motility. Here, we show that RLPs produced by associate to form micelles.

Surface sensing triggers a broad-spectrum antimicrobial response in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Interspecies bacterial competition may occur via cell-associated or secreted determinants and is key to successful niche colonization. We previously evolved Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and identified mutations in the Wsp surface-sensing signalling system. Surprisingly, a ΔwspF mutant, characterized by increased c-di-GMP levels and biofilm formation capacity, showed potent killing activity towards S.