Tracking Vibrio cholerae Cell-Cell Interactions during Infection Reveals Bacterial Population Dynamics within Intestinal Microenvironments. 2018

Yang Fu, and Brian T Ho, and John J Mekalanos
Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of the diarrheal disease cholera. Although many V. cholerae virulence factors have been studied, the role of interbacterial interactions within the host gut and their influence on colonization are poorly understood. Here, we utilized the conjugative properties of a Vibrio-specific plasmid to serve as a quantifiable genetic marker for direct contact among V. cholerae cells in the infant rabbit model for cholera. In conjunction, we also quantified contact-dependent type 6 secretion system (T6SS)-mediated killing of co-infecting V. cholerae strains. Tracking these interbacterial interactions revealed that most contact-dependent cell-cell interactions among V. cholerae occur in specific intestinal microenvironments, notably the distal small intestine and cecum, and that the T6SS confers a competitive advantage within the middle small intestine. These results support a model for V. cholerae gut colonization, which includes microenvironments where critical microbial-host and bacterial-bacterial interactions occur to facilitate colonization by this pathogen.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007422 Intestines The section of the alimentary canal from the STOMACH to the ANAL CANAL. It includes the LARGE INTESTINE and SMALL INTESTINE. Intestine
D010957 Plasmids Extrachromosomal, usually CIRCULAR DNA molecules that are self-replicating and transferable from one organism to another. They are found in a variety of bacterial, archaeal, fungal, algal, and plant species. They are used in GENETIC ENGINEERING as CLONING VECTORS. Episomes,Episome,Plasmid
D011817 Rabbits A burrowing plant-eating mammal with hind limbs that are longer than its fore limbs. It belongs to the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, and in contrast to hares, possesses 22 instead of 24 pairs of chromosomes. Belgian Hare,New Zealand Rabbit,New Zealand Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbit,Rabbit,Rabbit, Domestic,Chinchilla Rabbits,NZW Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbits,Oryctolagus cuniculus,Chinchilla Rabbit,Domestic Rabbit,Domestic Rabbits,Hare, Belgian,NZW Rabbit,Rabbit, Chinchilla,Rabbit, NZW,Rabbit, New Zealand,Rabbits, Chinchilla,Rabbits, Domestic,Rabbits, NZW,Rabbits, New Zealand,Zealand Rabbit, New,Zealand Rabbits, New,cuniculus, Oryctolagus
D002771 Cholera An acute diarrheal disease endemic in India and Southeast Asia whose causative agent is VIBRIO CHOLERAE. This condition can lead to severe dehydration in a matter of hours unless quickly treated. Vibrio cholerae Infection,Choleras,Infection, Vibrio cholerae,Infections, Vibrio cholerae,Vibrio cholerae Infections
D003227 Conjugation, Genetic A parasexual process in BACTERIA; ALGAE; FUNGI; and ciliate EUKARYOTA for achieving exchange of chromosome material during fusion of two cells. In bacteria, this is a uni-directional transfer of genetic material; in protozoa it is a bi-directional exchange. In algae and fungi, it is a form of sexual reproduction, with the union of male and female gametes. Bacterial Conjugation,Conjugation, Bacterial,Genetic Conjugation
D000069376 Type VI Secretion Systems Multiprotein complexes in GRAM NEGATIVE BACTERIA that deliver effector proteins into eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells by a mechanism similar to the contractile tail of bacteriophages. They are composed of a cell envelope-spanning tube which is surrounded by a contractile sheath and tipped by a cell puncturing complex; a base plate structure that anchors the assembly to the cell envelope; and an ATPase involved in the sheath contraction and disassembly of the complex. Bacterial Secretion System, Type VI,T6SS Secretion Systems,Type 6 Secretion System,Type 6 Secretion Systems,Type VI Secretion System,Secretion Systems, T6SS,Systems, T6SS Secretion
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014734 Vibrio cholerae The etiologic agent of CHOLERA. Bacillus cholerae,Bacillus cholerae-asiaticae,Liquidivibrio cholerae,Microspira comma,Pacinia cholerae-asiaticae,Spirillum cholerae,Spirillum cholerae-asiaticae,Vibrio albensis,Vibrio cholera,Vibrio cholerae-asiaticae,Vibrio comma
D054884 Host-Pathogen Interactions The interactions between a host and a pathogen, usually resulting in disease. Host Pathogen Interaction,Host-Pathogen Relations,Pathogen-Host Interaction,Pathogen-Host Interactions,Host Pathogen Interactions,Host Pathogen Relations,Host-Pathogen Interaction,Host-Pathogen Relation,Interaction, Host Pathogen,Interaction, Host-Pathogen,Interaction, Pathogen-Host,Interactions, Host Pathogen,Interactions, Host-Pathogen,Interactions, Pathogen-Host,Pathogen Host Interaction,Pathogen Host Interactions,Pathogen Interaction, Host,Pathogen Interactions, Host,Relation, Host-Pathogen,Relations, Host-Pathogen

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