T6SS2 effector repertoires.

All strains of the marine bacterium harbor a type VI secretion system (T6SS) named T6SS2, suggesting that this system plays an important role in the life cycle of this emerging pathogen. Although T6SS2 was recently shown to play a role in interbacterial competition, its effector repertoire remains unknown. Here, we employed proteomics to investigate the T6SS2 secretome of two strains, and we identified several antibacterial effectors encoded outside of the main T6SS2 gene cluster.

A Rapid Fluorescence-Based Screen to Identify Regulators and Components of Interbacterial Competition Mechanisms in Bacteria.

Contact-dependent antibacterial mechanisms enhance bacterial fitness as they enable bacteria to outcompete their rivals and thrive in diverse environments. Such systems also allow pathogenic bacteria to establish a niche inside a host, where they must compete with commensal microflora. In many cases, antibacterial systems are tightly regulated by complex sensor and signal transduction networks.