Quorum-sensing- and type VI secretion-mediated spatiotemporal cell death drives genetic diversity in Vibrio cholerae.

TitleQuorum-sensing- and type VI secretion-mediated spatiotemporal cell death drives genetic diversity in Vibrio cholerae.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsMashruwala, AA, Qin, B, Bassler, BL
JournalCell
Volume185
Issue21
Pagination3966-3979.e13
Date Published2022 Oct 13
ISSN1097-4172
KeywordsBacterial 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>

DOI10.1016/j.cell.2022.09.003
Alternate JournalCell
PubMed ID36167071
PubMed Central IDPMC9623500
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