The type VI secretion system of the emerging pathogen Stenotrophomonas maltophilia complex has antibacterial properties

Infections with the opportunistic pathogen complex can be fatal for immunocompromised patients. The mechanisms used by the bacterium to compete against other prokaryotes are not well understood. We found that the type VI secretion system (T6SS) allows complex to eliminate other bacteria and contribu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:mSphere 2023-12, Vol.8 (6), p.e0058423-e0058423
Main Authors: Crisan, Cristian V, Van Tyne, Daria, Goldberg, Joanna B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology
antibacterial
Bacteria
Bacterial infections
competition
Cystic fibrosis
Genomes
Gram-negative bacteria
Humans
Immunocompromised hosts
Infections
Lungs
Macromolecules
Microbial Pathogenesis
Mortality
Multidrug resistance
Opportunist infection
Pathogens
Patients
Phylogenetics
Prokaryotes
Proteins
Research Article
Stenotrophomonas
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia - genetics
Toxicity
type VI secretion system
Type VI Secretion Systems - genetics
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Summary:Infections with the opportunistic pathogen complex can be fatal for immunocompromised patients. The mechanisms used by the bacterium to compete against other prokaryotes are not well understood. We found that the type VI secretion system (T6SS) allows complex to eliminate other bacteria and contributes to the competitive fitness against a co-infecting isolate. The presence of T6SS genes in isolates across the globe highlights the importance of this apparatus as a weapon in the antibacterial arsenal of complex. The T6SS may confer survival advantages to complex isolates in polymicrobial communities in both environmental settings and during infections.
ISSN:2379-5042
2379-5042
DOI:10.1128/msphere.00584-23