Accumulation of dead cells from contact killing facilitates coexistence in bacterial biofilms.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial communities are governed by a wide variety of social interactions, some of which are antagonistic with potential significance for bacterial warfare. Several antagonistic mechanisms, such as killing via the type VI secretion system (T6SS), require killer cells to directly contact target cells. The T6SS is hypothesized to be a highly potent weapon, capable of facilitating the invasion and defence of bacterial populations. However, we find that the efficacy of contact killing is severely limited by the material consequences of cell death. Through experiments with Vibrio cholerae strains that kill via the T6SS, we show that dead cell debris quickly accumulates at the interface that forms between competing strains, preventing physical contact and thus preventing killing. While

SUBMITTER: Steinbach G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7811593 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature