Deciphering the Role of Colicins during Colonization of the Mammalian Gut by Commensal E. coli.

ABSTRACT: Colicins are specific and potent toxins produced by Enterobacteriaceae that result in the rapid elimination of sensitive cells. Colicin production is commonly found throughout microbial populations, suggesting its potential importance for bacterial survival in complex microbial environments. Nonetheless, as colicin biology has been predominately studied using synthetic models, it remains unclear how colicin production contributes to survival and fitness of a colicin-producing commensal strain in a natural environment. To address this gap, we took advantage of MP1, an E. coli strain that harbors a colicinogenic plasmid and is a natural colonizer of the murine gut. Using this model, we validated that MP1 is competent for colicin production and then directly interrogated the importance of col

SUBMITTER: Samuels AN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7284606 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature