Type VI secretion drives reciprocal growth inhibition among symbiotic Vibrio fischeri strains.
- 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
- 2The One Health Microbiome Center, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
- 3Department of Biological Sciences, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, USA.
Abstract
Bacterial cells are often in direct contact with one another and compete for nutrients and space. The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a contact-dependent mechanism that enables bacteria to deliver toxic effectors into neighbouring cells. Vibrio fischeri is a bacterial symbiont of the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes and encodes a T6SS on its second chromosome (T6SS2) that promotes interference competition among strains within the squid light organ. Effector diversity among T6SS2⁺ strains is poorly understood, which impedes predicting compatibility among strains within the light organ. Here, we report our investigation of strain ANM004 and how T6SS2 facilitates its interactions with other strains including the model T6SS2⁺ strain FQ-A001. We show that both strains exhibit reciprocal T6SS2-dependent antagonism. Comparative genomics reveals each strain encodes unique effectors within T6SS2 gene loci. Heterologous expression of an ANM004-encoded AHH nuclease effector in FQ-A001 inhibits kin growth in a T6SS2-dependent manner. This effect on FQ-A001 kin is abrogated by expression of the cognate immunity factor encoded downstream of the effector gene. Together, these results establish an experimental framework for investigating intercellular interactions between two T6SS2⁺ symbiotic strains.
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BibTeX
@article{mcneil2026type,
title = {{Type VI secretion drives reciprocal growth inhibition among symbiotic Vibrio fischeri strains.}},
author = {Anjali E McNeil and Landon B Teeter and Jaedon I Burkhart and Nathaniel J Flores and Yusuf A Shabana and Elizabeth J Giacobe and Peyton J Moore and Justice P Jensen and Aidan R Donnelly and Andrew N Murtha and Harun Aslan and Andrew G Cecere and Kirsten R Guckes and Tim I Miyashiro},
journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1099/mic.0.001781},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42912438},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Type VI secretion drives reciprocal growth inhibition among symbiotic Vibrio fischeri strains.
AU - Anjali E McNeil
AU - Landon B Teeter
AU - Jaedon I Burkhart
AU - Nathaniel J Flores
AU - Yusuf A Shabana
AU - Elizabeth J Giacobe
AU - Peyton J Moore
AU - Justice P Jensen
AU - Aidan R Donnelly
AU - Andrew N Murtha
AU - Harun Aslan
AU - Andrew G Cecere
AU - Kirsten R Guckes
AU - Tim I Miyashiro
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Microbiology (Reading, England)
DO - 10.1099/mic.0.001781
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42912438
AB - Bacterial cells are often in direct contact with one another and compete for nutrients and space. The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a contact-dependent mechanism that enables bacteria to deliver toxic effectors into neighbouring cells. Vibrio fischeri is a bacterial symbiont of the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes and encodes a T6SS on its second chromosome (T6SS2) that promotes interference competition among strains within the squid light organ. Effector diversity among T6SS2⁺ strains is poorly understood, which impedes predicting compatibility among strains within the light organ. Here, we report our investigation of strain ANM004 and how T6SS2 facilitates its interactions with other strains including the model T6SS2⁺ strain FQ-A001. We show that both strains exhibit reciprocal T6SS2-dependent antagonism. Comparative genomics reveals each strain encodes unique effectors within T6SS2 gene loci. Heterologous expression of an ANM004-encoded AHH nuclease effector in FQ-A001 inhibits kin growth in a T6SS2-dependent manner. This effect on FQ-A001 kin is abrogated by expression of the cognate immunity factor encoded downstream of the effector gene. Together, these results establish an experimental framework for investigating intercellular interactions between two T6SS2⁺ symbiotic strains.
SN - 1350-0872
SN - 1465-2080
ER -