Type VI secretion system mutations reduced competitive fitness of classical Vibrio cholerae biotype

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26847-y
• Publication Date: 2021-11-09T11:02:38Z
• Authors: Benjamin Kostiuk; Francis J. Santor...; Laura Diaz-Satizabal; Fabiana Bisaro; Kyung-Jo Lee; Anna N. Dhody; Daniele Provenzano; Daniel Unterweger; Stefan Pukatzki
• Keywords: Pandemic; El Tor; Cholera; Cholera toxin

Abstract The gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of diarrhoeal disease cholera and responsible for seven recorded pandemics. Several factors are postulated to have led decline 6th pandemic classical strains rise El Tor biotype V. , establishing current 7th pandemic. We investigated ability 2nd pandemics engage their type six secretion system (T6SS) in microbial competition against non-pandemic strains. report that underwent sequential mutations T6SS genetic determinants initially exposed attack by subsequently caused become vulnerable intraspecific competition. chronology these T6SS-debilitating agrees with emergence .