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- Title
The coral pathogen Vibrio coralliilyticus uses a T6SS to secrete a group of novel anti-eukaryotic effectors that contribute to virulence.
- Authors
Mass, Shir; Cohen, Hadar; Podicheti, Ram; Rusch, Douglas B.; Gerlic, Motti; Ushijima, Blake; van Kessel, Julia C.; Bosis, Eran; Salomon, Dor
- Abstract
Vibrio coralliilyticus is a pathogen of coral and shellfish, leading to devastating economic and ecological consequences worldwide. Although rising ocean temperatures correlate with increased V. coralliilyticus pathogenicity, the specific molecular mechanisms and determinants contributing to virulence remain poorly understood. Here, we systematically analyzed the type VI secretion system (T6SS), a contact-dependent toxin delivery apparatus, in V. coralliilyticus. We identified 2 omnipresent T6SSs that are activated at temperatures in which V. coralliilyticus becomes virulent; T6SS1 is an antibacterial system mediating interbacterial competition, whereas T6SS2 mediates anti-eukaryotic toxicity and contributes to mortality during infection of an aquatic model organism, Artemia salina. Using comparative proteomics, we identified the T6SS1 and T6SS2 toxin arsenals of 3 V. coralliilyticus strains with distinct disease etiologies. Remarkably, T6SS2 secretes at least 9 novel anti-eukaryotic toxins comprising core and accessory repertoires. We propose that T6SSs differently contribute to V. coralliilyticus's virulence: T6SS2 plays a direct role by targeting the host, while T6SS1 plays an indirect role by eliminating competitors. Vibrio coralliilyticus is a pathogen of coral and shellfish that is becoming more virulent as ocean temperatures rise, causing significant damage. This study shows that V. coralliilyticus has two type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) that are activated at high temperatures; one targets bacterial competitors, while the other launches up to 9 novel toxins against eukaryotic hosts like shrimps.
- Subjects
OCEAN temperature; AQUATIC organisms; HIGH temperatures; VIBRIO; TOXINS
- Publication
PLoS Biology, 2024, Vol 22, Issue 9, p1
- ISSN
1544-9173
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pbio.3002734