Title | Quorum-sensing- and type VI secretion-mediated spatiotemporal cell death drives genetic diversity in Vibrio cholerae. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2022 |
Authors | Mashruwala, AA, Qin, B, Bassler, BL |
Journal | Cell |
Volume | 185 |
Issue | 21 |
Pagination | 3966-3979.e13 |
Date Published | 2022 Oct 13 |
ISSN | 1097-4172 |
Keywords | Bacterial Proteins, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Genetic Variation, Quorum Sensing, Type VI Secretion Systems, Vibrio cholerae |
Abstract | <p>Bacterial colonies composed of genetically identical individuals can diversify to yield variant cells with distinct genotypes. Variant outgrowth manifests as sectors. Here, we show that Type VI secretion system (T6SS)-driven cell death in Vibrio cholerae colonies imposes a selective pressure for the emergence of variant strains that can evade T6SS-mediated killing. T6SS-mediated cell death occurs in two distinct spatiotemporal phases, and each phase is driven by a particular T6SS toxin. The first phase is regulated by quorum sensing and drives sectoring. The second phase does not require the T6SS-injection machinery. Variant V. cholerae strains isolated from colony sectors encode mutated quorum-sensing components that confer growth advantages by suppressing T6SS-killing activity while simultaneously boosting T6SS-killing defenses. Our findings show that the T6SS can eliminate sibling cells, suggesting a role in intra-specific antagonism. We propose that quorum-sensing-controlled T6SS-driven killing promotes V. cholerae genetic diversity, including in natural habitats and during disease.</p> |
DOI | 10.1016/j.cell.2022.09.003 |
Alternate Journal | Cell |
PubMed ID | 36167071 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC9623500 |
Grant List | / HHMI / Howard Hughes Medical Institute / United States R01 GM065859 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States R37 GM065859 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States |