Evolution of Interbacterial Antagonism in Bee Gut Microbiota Reflects Host and Symbiont Diversification.

ABSTRACT: Gram-negative bacteria frequently possess type VI secretion systems (T6SSs), protein complexes that are able to inject toxic proteins into nearby cells. Many aspects of T6SS structure and function have been characterized for model species, but less is known about the evolutionary processes that shape T6SS and effector (toxin) diversity in host-associated microbial communities. The bee gut microbiota is a simple community that has codiversified with bees for >80 million years. This study investigated how complements of T6SSs and effectors within the bee microbiota changed as bacteria and their hosts diversified into isolated species. We used protein homology to survey 198 isolate genomes of 9 Gram-negative species for genes encoding T6SS structural components; Rhs toxins, which are common T

SUBMITTER: Steele MI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8125069 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature