BioProject

In recent years, the characterization of the Type VI secretion system (T6SS), and its associated toxins, has revolutionised our view of bacterial colonisation strategies and the T6SS capacity/diversity is undervalued at this stage of our knowledge. More...

In recent years, the characterization of the Type VI secretion system (T6SS), and its associated toxins, has revolutionised our view of bacterial colonisation strategies and the T6SS capacity/diversity is undervalued at this stage of our knowledge. Additionally, given that possession of these systems and associated toxins have been selected as highly favourable for bacteria in an evolutionary sense, the targets of these toxins can be considered as highly valuable potential antibacterial targets. Both P. aeruginosa and P. putida contain three T6SS clusters which exhibit great variety and complexity both in terms of apparatus and secreted toxins. In the case of P. aeruginosa these systems are used to target both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms which provides a competitive advantage for P. aeruginosa within a wide range of niches. For P. putida these secretion systems are used by the bacterium to drive killing of resilient phytopathogens and appear to be a major player in its biocontrol portfolio. The proposed project will uncover the full repertoire of T6SS toxins associated with all 3 T6SSs in P. aeruginosa. Additionally, TraDIS will be used to investigate the mechanism used by the T6SS of both P. aeruginosa and P. putida to target and deliver toxins into prey cells. The output of this work may offer opportunities for novel therapeutic approaches that can be learned from the targets of T6SS toxins and/or the mechanism of T6SS action. Less...