细菌VI型分泌系统调节因素的研究进展

细菌的VI型分泌系统(type VI secretion system,T6SS)是一种新发现的分泌系统,在病原菌对宿主黏附、侵入及杀伤等方面均发挥了重要作用。目前的研究主要集中在T6SS在细菌致病、细菌间竞争等作用方面。然而对于其调控因素的研究尚处于初级阶段。对于大多数细菌而言,T6SS的表达并不是恒定的。现已发现温度、渗透压、抗生素、离子等环境因素均可调节T6SS。此外,在分子层面,H-NS蛋白、RpoN转录因子、c-di-GMP等也可发挥对T6SS的调节作用。在这些调控因素的调节下,细菌可以适时地开启或关闭其T6SS的表达,从而更好地感知并适应环境。对T6SS调控因素的研究对于充分认识细菌致病性并进行有效控制至关重要。本文将对调节T6SS的环境因素与调节因子做一综述。     

细菌Ⅵ型分泌系统的调控与功能研究进展

Ⅵ型分泌系统(TypeⅥSecretion System,T6SS)是近年来研究较多的一种细菌分泌系统,广泛存在于革兰氏阴性菌中,在细菌的毒力、定殖、扩散及竞争遗传中发挥着重要的作用。本文综述了细菌T6SS的结构、调控以及生物学功能的最新研究进展,以期为基于T6SS的抗菌药物研制及细菌感染的诊断与防控提供新思路。     

从效应蛋白视角看革兰氏阴性细菌VI型蛋白分泌系统底物转运机理

蛋白质分泌系统是细菌与外界交流的重要工具。革兰氏阴性细菌的Ⅵ型蛋白分泌系统(T6SS)可以转运分泌蛋白至细菌和真核细胞内,在菌间竞争中发挥重要作用,是细菌的一种重要的生存适应性武器。分泌蛋白主要包括起到运载作用的结构蛋白和有细胞毒性的效应蛋白这两类。本文主要从效应蛋白的视角讨论T6SS如何识别并转运效应蛋白的作用机理,回顾了以VgrG和PAAR为端部载体蛋白的转运途径、依赖端部运输的效应蛋白、T6SS伴侣蛋白等重要发现的背景和过程,并综述了T6SS分泌途径的新进展。     

从效应蛋白视角看革兰氏阴性细菌Ⅵ型蛋白分泌系统底物转运机理

蛋白质分泌系统是细菌与外界交流的重要工具。革兰氏阴性细菌的Ⅵ型蛋白分泌系统(T6SS)可以转运分泌蛋白至细菌和真核细胞内,在菌间竞争中发挥重要作用,是细菌的一种重要的生存适应性武器。分泌蛋白主要包括起到运载作用的结构蛋白和有细胞毒性的效应蛋白这两类。本文主要从效应蛋白的视角讨论T6SS如何识别并转运效应蛋白的作用机理,回顾了以VgrG和PAAR为端部载体蛋白的转运途径、依赖端部运输的效应蛋白、T6SS伴侣蛋白等重要发现的背景和过程,并综述了T6SS分泌途径的新进展。     

细菌Ⅵ型分泌系统溶血素共调节蛋白研究进展

Ⅵ型分泌系统(Type Ⅵ secretion system,T6SS)是革兰阴性菌中的一种重要的分泌系统,可参与细菌的致病性,并与生物膜的形成、识别异己和应激反应以及细菌耐药性的获得有关。溶血素共调节蛋白(hemolysin co-regulated protein,Hcp)是T6SS的核心组成部分,构成其内管结构,形成六聚环允许效应物质通过,并可保护效应物质避免其被降解。对Hcp蛋白功能的探讨及阐述T6SS的作用机制至关重要。研究发现,Hcp是一种在不同细菌中具有多样功能的分泌蛋白,如可影响细菌的运动能力、黏附能力、在靶细胞内定植的水平、参与细菌间竞争的能力、在动植物宿主内定殖的能力以及影响细菌的生物膜形成等。现将T6SS的核心组分Hcp的研究进展作一简明的概述,从而为全面认识T6SS的功能并深入探讨其作用机制提供参考依据。     

铜绿假单胞菌T6SS的组装、分泌、功能和调控

作为一种对抗真核细胞和原核细胞的强有力细菌武器,Ⅵ型分泌系统(type Ⅵ secretion system,T6SS)广泛存在于革兰氏阴性菌中。铜绿假单胞菌是一种对多种抗生素具有耐药性并能够在人体引发急性和慢性感染的条件致病菌,它编码3套独立的T6SS,分别为H1-、H2-和H3-T6SS。T6SS通过介导细菌间竞争、生物被膜的形成、金属离子的摄取以及与真核宿主细胞之间的相互作用,对铜绿假单胞菌在毒力和适应环境方面发挥重要作用。本文主要对铜绿假单胞菌T6SS的组装、效应蛋白的分泌、功能及调控机制展开综述,旨在为T6SS的研究提供一定的参考,并为铜绿假单胞菌感染的预防和治疗提供一定的指导。     

细菌Ⅵ型分泌系统效应蛋白的装配及功能的研究进展

蛋白分泌作为细胞之间传递信号的途径之一,在微生物生存竞争中也扮演着重要的角色。革兰氏阴性菌可以通过Ⅵ型分泌系统(type Ⅵ secretion system, T6SS)将效应蛋白传递至胞外或原核和真核微生物中,从而介导微生物间的竞争或宿主-细菌的相互作用,最终建立竞争优势。本文主要总结了T6SS的结构与组成,并重点对效应蛋白的装配以及其与免疫蛋白的作用机制的研究进展进行阐述,为以后靶向T6SS抗菌药物的研制提供新思路。     

细菌Ⅵ型分泌系统及其致病机制的研究进展

Ⅵ型分泌系统(Type Ⅵ secretion system,T6SS)是新近发现的一种细菌分泌系统,广泛存在于革兰阴性菌中,与细菌的致病性密切相关。目前,多种致病菌T6SS的致病机制都获得了广泛的研究。总结近年来T6SS的相关文献,对霍乱弧菌、铜绿假单胞菌、沙门菌等致病菌的T6SS及其致病机制作一综述。     

茄科劳尔氏菌复合体毒力基因及调控网络最新研究进展

植物青枯病是一种能造成巨大经济损失的土传病害,其病原茄科劳尔氏菌复合体(Ralstonia solanacearum species complex,RSSC)能通过复杂的毒力调控网络将毒力因子合成并分泌到植物细胞胞质间或细胞质内,从而引起寄主植物发病。本文详细分析了RSSC主要的毒力基因及调控网络,包括其运动性(鞭毛,菌毛)、细菌分泌系统(T2SS、T3SS以及T6SS)、毒力调控系统(Phc、Prh、Vsr、Peh、Sol)、毒力因子(CWDEs、T3Es、EPS)、群体信号因子AHL及植物激素,总结了近年来最新的研究进展并绘制了相关网络调控模式图,以期为进一步研究RSSC的致病机理及防控研究提供参考。     

革兰氏阴性菌IX型分泌系统的研究进展

IX型分泌系统(Type IX Secretion System,T9SS)是一种最新发现的存在于许多革兰氏阴性细菌中的分泌系统。T9SS参与细菌的毒力和滑行运动及复杂生物聚合物的降解过程。近年来,与T9SS相关的研究一直都是微生物学领域关注的热点。本文就T9SS的发现、组成与结构、分泌机制及调控机制等方面的研究进展进行综述,以期为进一步解析细菌的T9SS提供新的思路。     

Type VI secretion systems of plant-pathogenic Burkholderia glumae BGR1 play a functionally distinct role in interspecies interactions and virulence

In the environment, bacteria show close association, such as interspecies interaction, with other bacteria as well as host organisms. The type VI secretion system (T6SS) in gram-negative bacteria is involved in bacterial competition or virulence. The plant pathogen Burkholderia glumae BGR1, causing bacterial panicle blight in rice, has four T6SS gene clusters. The presence of at least one T6SS gene cluster in an organism indicates its distinct role, like in the bacterial and eukaryotic cell targeting system. In this study, deletion mutants targeting four tssD genes, which encode the main component of T6SS needle formation, were constructed to functionally dissect the four T6SSs in B. glumae BGR1. We found that both T6SS group_4 and group_5, belonging to the eukaryotic targeting system, act independently as bacterial virulence factors toward host plants. In contrast, T6SS group_1 is involved in bacterial competition by exerting antibacterial effects. The ΔtssD1 mutant lost the antibacterial effect of T6SS group_1. The ΔtssD1 mutant showed similar virulence as the wild-type BGR1 in rice because the ΔtssD1 mutant, like the wild-type BGR1, still has key virulence factors such as toxin production towards rice. However, metagenomic analysis showed different bacterial communities in rice infected with the ΔtssD1 mutant compared to wild-type BGR1. In particular, the T6SS group_1 controls endophytic plant-associated bacteria such as Luteibacter and Dyella in rice plants and may have an advantage in competing with endophytic plant-associated bacteria for settlement inside rice plants in the environment. Thus, B. glumae BGR1 causes disease using T6SSs with functionally distinct roles.     

The type VI secretion system: a multipurpose delivery system with a phage-like machinery

Whether they live in the soil, drift in the ocean, survive in the lungs of human hosts or reside on the surfaces of leaves, all bacteria must cope with an array of environmental stressors. Bacteria have evolved an impressive suite of protein secretion systems that enable their survival in hostile environments and facilitate colonization of eukaryotic hosts. Collectively, gram-negative bacteria produce six distinct secretion systems that deliver proteins to the extracellular milieu or directly into the cytosol of host cells. The type VI secretion system (T6SS) was discovered recently and is encoded in at least one fourth of all sequenced gram-negative bacterial genomes. T6SS proteins are evolutionarily and structurally related to phage proteins, and it is likely that the T6SS apparatus is reminiscent of phage injection machinery. Most studies of T6SS function have been conducted in the context of host-pathogen interactions. However, the totality of data suggests that the T6SS is a versatile tool with roles in virulence, symbiosis, interbacterial interactions, and antipathogenesis. This review gives a brief history of T6SS discovery and an overview of the pathway's predicted structure and function. Special attention is paid to research addressing the T6SS of plant-associated bacteria, including pathogens, symbionts and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria.     

Bile Salts Modulate the Mucin-Activated Type VI Secretion System of Pandemic Vibrio cholerae

The causative agent of cholera, Vibrio cholerae, regulates its diverse virulence factors to thrive in the human small intestine and environmental reservoirs. Among this pathogen’s arsenal of virulence factors is the tightly regulated type VI secretion system (T6SS). This system acts as an inverted bacteriophage to inject toxins into competing bacteria and eukaryotic phagocytes. V. cholerae strains responsible for the current 7^th pandemic activate their T6SS within the host. We established that T6SS-mediated competition occurs upon T6SS activation in the infant mouse, and that this system is functional under anaerobic conditions. When investigating the intestinal host factors mucins (a glycoprotein component of mucus) and bile for potential regulatory roles in controlling the T6SS, we discovered that once mucins activate the T6SS, bile acids can further modulate T6SS activity. Microbiota modify bile acids to inhibit T6SS-mediated killing of commensal bacteria. This interplay is a novel interaction between commensal bacteria, host factors, and the V. cholerae T6SS, showing an active host role in infection.     

Pseudomonas fluorescens MFE01 delivers a putative type VI secretion amidase that confers biocontrol against the soft-rot pathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a contractile nanomachine widespread in Gram-negative bacteria. The T6SS injects effectors into target cells including eukaryotic hosts and competitor microbial cells and thus participates in pathogenesis and intermicrobial competition. Pseudomonas fluorescens MFE01 possesses a single T6SS gene cluster that confers biocontrol properties by protecting potato tubers against the phytopathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum (Pca). Here, we demonstrate that a functional T6SS is essential to protect potato tuber by reducing the pectobacteria population. Fluorescence microscopy experiments showed that MFE01 displays an aggressive behaviour with an offensive T6SS characterized by continuous and intense T6SS firing activity. Interestingly, we observed that T6SS firing is correlated with rounding of Pectobacterium cells, suggesting delivery of a potent cell wall targeting effector. Mutagenesis coupled with functional assays then revealed that a putative T6SS secreted amidase, Tae3^Pf, is mainly responsible for MFE01 toxicity towards Pca. Further studies finally demonstrated that Tae3^Pf is toxic when produced in the periplasm, and that its toxicity is counteracted by the Tai3^Pf inner membrane immunity protein.     

Type VI Secretion System Toxins Horizontally Shared between Marine Bacteria

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a widespread protein secretion apparatus used by Gram-negative bacteria to deliver toxic effector proteins into adjacent bacterial or host cells. Here, we uncovered a role in interbacterial competition for the two T6SSs encoded by the marine pathogen Vibrio alginolyticus. Using comparative proteomics and genetics, we identified their effector repertoires. In addition to the previously described effector V12G01_02265, we identified three new effectors secreted by T6SS1, indicating that the T6SS1 secretes at least four antibacterial effectors, of which three are members of the MIX-effector class. We also showed that the T6SS2 secretes at least three antibacterial effectors. Our findings revealed that many MIX-effectors belonging to clan V are “orphan” effectors that neighbor mobile elements and are shared between marine bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. We demonstrated that a MIX V-effector from V. alginolyticus is a functional T6SS effector when ectopically expressed in another Vibrio species. We propose that mobile MIX V-effectors serve as an environmental reservoir of T6SS effectors that are shared and used to diversify antibacterial toxin repertoires in marine bacteria, resulting in enhanced competitive fitness.     

Close encounters of the type‐six kind: injected bacterial toxins modulate gut microbial composition

Bacteria of the phylum Bacteroidetes constitute a substantial portion of the human gut microbiota, including symbionts and opportunistic pathogens. How these bacteria coexist and provide colonization resistance to pathogenic strains is not well understood. In this issue of EMBO Reports, Hecht and colleagues describe a mechanism by which strains of Bacteroides fragilis compete with each other for an intestinal niche 1 . Prompted by the observation that B. fragilis populations appear to be dominated by either commensal, non‐toxigenic strains, or by enterotoxigenic, potentially pathogenic strains, the authors investigated mechanisms of competition between these two subsets. In agreement with two recent studies 2 3 , Hecht et al 1 found that competition between B. fragilis strains is dependent on a type‐6 secretion system (T6SS) apparatus, secreted effectors, and immunity genes. They identify a T6SS effector–immunity gene pair that enables a non‐toxigenic strain to competitively exclude enterotoxigenic B. fragilis, thus providing a proof of principle for the use of T6SS‐mediated killing as a therapeutic strategy to eradicate pathogenic strains.