Type IV Pilus Shapes a ‘Bubble-Burst’ Pattern Opposing Spatial Intermixing of Two Interacting Bacterial Populations

Fang, Yuan; Chen, Xiaoli; Ma, Yinyin; Tang, Yue‐Qin; Johnson, David R.; Nie, Yong; Wu, Xiao‐Lei

doi:10.1128/spectrum.01944-21

Cited by 8 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Intermixing index was adapted from previous studies [125, 126]. Briefly, intermixing index is defined as number of intersection events between the 2 populations in a circular section at a given distance from colony centre, correcting for circumference with a given radius.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness ofPseudomonas aeruginosatype VI secretion system relies on toxin potency and type IV pili-dependent interaction

Rudzite

Endres

Filloux

2022

Preprint

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The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is an antibacterial weapon that is used by numerous Gram-negative bacteria to gain competitive advantage by injecting toxins into adjacent prey cells. Predicting the outcome of a T6SS-dependent competition is not only reliant on presence-absence of the system but instead involves a multiplicity of factors. Pseudomonas aeruginosa possesses 3 distinct T6SSs and a set of more than 20 toxic effectors with diverse functions including disruption of cell wall integrity, degradation of nucleic acids or metabolic impairment. We generated a comprehensive collection of mutants with various degrees of T6SS activity and/or sensitivity to each individual T6SS toxin. By imaging whole mixed bacterial macrocolonies, we then investigated how these P. aeruginosa strains gain a competitive edge in multiple attacker/prey combinations. We observed that the potency of single T6SS toxin varies significantly from one another as measured by monitoring the community structure, with some toxins acting better in synergy or requiring a higher payload. Remarkably the degree of intermixing between preys and attackers is also key to the competition outcome and is driven by the frequency of contact as well as the ability of the prey to move away from the attacker using type IV pili-dependent twitching motility. Finally, we implemented a computational model to better understand how changes in T6SS firing behaviours or cell-cell contacts lead to population level competitive advantages, thus providing conceptual insight applicable to all types of contact-based competition.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness ofPseudomonas aeruginosatype VI secretion system relies on toxin potency and type IV pili-dependent interaction

Rudzite

Endres

Filloux

2022

Preprint

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“…30 To focus on the direct effects of substrate reaction rates on spatial structure, both strains further contain a deletion in pilAB, which is required for type IV pilus. 50 Deletion of this gene reduces the twitching motility 33 during colony expansion and resulted in a much more defined spatial structure (Figure S1). The following studies used nonmotile strains (△pilAB mutants).…”

Section: ■ Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Image analysis used here is described in detail elsewhere. 50 Briefly, the relative abundance of [0,1] in the colony pattern was performed in custom Wolfram Mathematica scripts. First, each colored pixel was converted in a binary fashion to green or red.…”

Section: ■ Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, the promoter in the upstream of nahG was rhaSR-PrhaBAD , which was induced by l -rhamnose monohydrate in [1,0] . To focus on the direct effects of substrate reaction rates on spatial structure, both strains further contain a deletion in pilAB , which is required for type IV pilus . Deletion of this gene reduces the twitching motility during colony expansion and resulted in a much more defined spatial structure (Figure S1).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Images were merged using FIJI software. Image analysis used here is described in detail elsewhere . Briefly, the relative abundance of [0,1] in the colony pattern was performed in custom Wolfram Mathematica scripts.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assembly of Microbial Communities Engaging in Metabolic Division of Labor in a Diffusion-Limited Environment Is Governed by Metabolic Flux

et al. 2023

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Metabolic division of labor (MDOL) represents one of the most commonly occurring interactions within natural microbial communities. Specifically, in a variety of MDOL systems engaged in hydrocarbon degradation, a sequential degradation is performed by several members with final products that are necessary for the growth of each member. In these MDOL systems, each strain catalyzes one or more specific reactions of a multistep metabolic pathway, whose end products are then allocated among the participants. While the benefit allocation is independent of metabolic flux in well-mixed environments, it remains unclear how the benefits are allocated when diffusion is limited. Here, we investigated how MDOL communities assemble in a diffusion-limited environment, by combining mathematical modeling with experimental inquiry using a synthetic consortium engaged in MDOL. Our model analysis in a diffusion-limited environment showed that, when the growth of all populations in the community relies on the final product that can only be produced by the last population, a diffusion gradient of the final products may create a bias favoring the member producing the final products, resulting in a higher relative abundance of the final product producer. Moreover, such asymmetric allocation of the final products is enhanced by both the lower diffusion rate and the higher metabolic flux (i.e., the higher yields of the final products) in the MDOL. Our results show that in a diffusively confined environment, metabolic flux constitutes a determining factor in the assembly of the MDOL community. Together, our findings are critical for a better understanding of how resource-sharing microbial communities are established and should assist in designing such communities for improved biomanufacturing and bioremediation.

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Microfluidic approaches in microbial ecology

Ugolini,

Wang,

Secchi

et al. 2024

Lab Chip

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Type IV Pilus Shapes a ‘Bubble-Burst’ Pattern Opposing Spatial Intermixing of Two Interacting Bacterial Populations

Cited by 8 publications

References 31 publications

Effectiveness ofPseudomonas aeruginosatype VI secretion system relies on toxin potency and type IV pili-dependent interaction

Effectiveness ofPseudomonas aeruginosatype VI secretion system relies on toxin potency and type IV pili-dependent interaction

Assembly of Microbial Communities Engaging in Metabolic Division of Labor in a Diffusion-Limited Environment Is Governed by Metabolic Flux

Microfluidic approaches in microbial ecology

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